The European Parliament should enhance its cost-efficiency. Various possibilities for this are shown in Ville Itälä's Discharge Report of the European Parliament for the year 2009. The Report was adopted in the Budgetary Control Committee of the European Parliament on Tuesday with a vast majority of votes.

"In this current economical situation, the European Parliament should set an example in cost cutting. Instead of consuming more, we have to find new ways of doing things. Therefore, it is of vital importance that we ourselves are critical of Parliaments past spending", stated Mr Itälä.

One of the main issues in the Report is the security of the European Parliament. Mr Itälä said that, "security was one of my primary objectives from the very beginning, but when the post office was robbed in February 2011 the topic became even more apparent."

The introduction of electronic registration for MEPs would simultaneously cut the costs and strengthen the security of the European Parliament. Ville Itälä would like to see all MEPs use their badges for entering and exiting the buildings of the European Parliament.

"I admit that this is a tough and very sensitive topic. I wish we could find a way to enhance the security of the European Parliament to make it a safer place for all of us, without inconveniencing the staff too much", Mr Itälä added.

"The European Parliament is an extremely large entity, and although it has been challenging, it has proved to very interesting working on the Discharge Report of the European Parliament", concluded Ville Itälä.

The Discharge Report of the European Parliament for the year 2009 will be voted on during the May Plenary Session.

The Discharge Report of the European Parliament for the year 2009

Related documents to the discharge procedure of the European Parliament

For further information:

Ville ITÄLÄ, MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845647

Sarita Rauta, EPP Group Press & Communications Service, Tel: +32-476-880538

For further information:

Ville ITÄLÄ, MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845647

Sarita Rauta, EPP Group Press & Communications Service, Tel: +32-476-880538

Notes to Editors:

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 265 Members.