European Ombudsman
| European Ombudsman |
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|---|---|
 European Ombudsman logo |
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| Appointer | European Parliament |
| Inaugural holder | Jacob Söderman |
| Formation | 1995 |
| Website | ombudsman.europa.eu |
| European Union |
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The European Ombudsman (or sometimes Euro-Ombudsman) is an ombudsman for the European Union, based in the Salvador de Madariaga Building in Strasbourg.
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[edit] History
The European Ombudsman was established by the Maastricht Treaty 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.
[edit] Appointment
The European Ombudsman is appointed by the European Parliament. 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)
[edit] 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 Justice 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.[1]
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.[2]
[edit] Cases
It is a right of an EU citizen, 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%.[2]
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.[1]
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.[2]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b The European Ombudsman – At a glance European Ombudsman website
- ^ a b c Mackie, Christopher (18 March 2010) The EU's 'invisible man' who has power over all our lives, Scotsman
[edit] 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
