European Ombudsman
Encyclopedia
The European Ombudsman (or sometimes Euro-Ombudsman) is an ombudsman
for the European Union
, based in the Salvador de Madariaga Building in Strasbourg
.
and the first, Jacob Söderman
of Finland, was elected by Parliament in 1995. The current ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros
of Greece, took office on 1 April 2003.
. He is appointed for the term of Parliament and his term is renewable. At the request of Parliament, the Ombudsman may be removed by the Court of Justice
if "he no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his duties or if he is guilty of serious misconduct". (Article 228 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU)
in its judicial capacity, its General Court, the Civil Service Tribunal, national/regional administrations (even where EU law is concerned) or judiciaries or private individuals or corporations.
The ombudsman also has no binding powers to compel compliance with his rulings, yet the level of compliance is very high. The ombudsman primarily relies on the power of persuasion and publicity.
, in the EU treaties
, to be able to take a case to the ombudsman. (Article 20:2d TFEU) Each year the ombudsman receives about 3,000 to 4,000 complaints. 60–70% of these are related to the European Commission
, 12% to Parliament and 10% to the European Personnel Selection Office
(EPSO): from dissatisfied applicants to the European Civil Service
. The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) accounts for 9%.
These cases include a late payment from the Commission to a German science journalist. The Commission explained why, paid interest and accelerated future payments to experts. Following a complaint form a Hungarian, EPSO agreed to clarify information in recruitment competition notices concerning eligibility and pre-selection tests. Finally, the Ombudsman forced the Council to release documents to the public it previously denied existed.
However the ombudsman has a relatively low profile, particularly in the United Kingdom which was responsible for the smallest amount of cases lodged despite its eurosceptic
reputation.
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
for the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, based in the Salvador de Madariaga Building in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
.
History
The European Ombudsman was established by the Maastricht TreatyMaastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
and the first, Jacob Söderman
Jacob Söderman
Jacob-Magnus Söderman is a Finnish Member of Parliament since September 2007 until 2011...
of Finland, was elected by Parliament in 1995. The current ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros
Nikiforos Diamandouros
Nikiforos P. Diamandouros is a Greek academic who was the first National Ombudsman of Greece from 1998 to 2003 and has been European Ombudsman since April 2003. He was re-elected as European Ombudsman in 2010....
of Greece, took office on 1 April 2003.
Appointment
The European Ombudsman is appointed by the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. He is appointed for the term of Parliament and his term is renewable. At the request of Parliament, the Ombudsman may be removed by the Court of Justice
Court of Justice of the European Union
The Court of Justice of the European Union is the institution of the European Union which encompasses the whole judiciary. Seated in Luxembourg, it has three sub-courts; the European Court of Justice, the General Court and the Civil Service Tribunal.The institution was originally established in...
if "he no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his duties or if he is guilty of serious misconduct". (Article 228 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU)
Remit and powers
Any EU citizen or entity may appeal the ombudsman to investigate an EU institution on the grounds of maladministration: administrative irregularities, unfairness, discrimination, abuse of power, failure to reply, refusal of information or unnecessary delay. The ombudsman can not investigate the European Court of JusticeEuropean Court of Justice
The Court can sit in plenary session, as a Grand Chamber of 13 judges, or in chambers of three or five judges. Plenary sitting are now very rare, and the court mostly sits in chambers of three or five judges...
in its judicial capacity, its General Court, the Civil Service Tribunal, national/regional administrations (even where EU law is concerned) or judiciaries or private individuals or corporations.
The ombudsman also has no binding powers to compel compliance with his rulings, yet the level of compliance is very high. The ombudsman primarily relies on the power of persuasion and publicity.
Cases
It is a right of an EU citizenCitizenship of the European Union
Citizenship of the European Union was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty . European citizenship is supplementary to national citizenship and affords rights such as the right to vote in European elections, the right to free movement and the right to consular protection from other EU states'...
, in the EU treaties
Treaties of the European Union
The Treaties of the European Union are a set of international treaties between the European Union member states which sets out the EU's constitutional basis. They establish the various EU institutions together with their remit, procedures and objectives...
, to be able to take a case to the ombudsman. (Article 20:2d TFEU) Each year the ombudsman receives about 3,000 to 4,000 complaints. 60–70% of these are related to the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
, 12% to Parliament and 10% to the European Personnel Selection Office
European Personnel Selection Office
The European Personnel Selection Office is responsible for selecting staff to work for the Institutions of the European Union...
(EPSO): from dissatisfied applicants to the European Civil Service
European Civil Service
The European Civil Service is the civil service serving the institutions of the European Union, of which the largest employer is the European Commission, the executive branch of the European Union...
. The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) accounts for 9%.
These cases include a late payment from the Commission to a German science journalist. The Commission explained why, paid interest and accelerated future payments to experts. Following a complaint form a Hungarian, EPSO agreed to clarify information in recruitment competition notices concerning eligibility and pre-selection tests. Finally, the Ombudsman forced the Council to release documents to the public it previously denied existed.
However the ombudsman has a relatively low profile, particularly in the United Kingdom which was responsible for the smallest amount of cases lodged despite its eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
reputation.
External links
- www.ombudsman.europa.eu (official site)
- Election of the European Ombudsman, European Parliament
- EOI – European Ombudsman Institute EOI – European Ombudsman Institute
- The European Ombudsman European Navigator