European Parliament re-elects European Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros

The European Ombudsman is elected by the EP for five years. It is a significant role as the position represents a way for European citizens to seek redress against maladministration within the EU Institutions or bodies. Mr. Diamandouros has served as European Ombudsman since 1 April 2003. In the past, he had come under fire for his fight for more transparency in Brussels.

During his hearing Mr. Diamandouros stressed that "co-operation with the Petitions Committee has been extremely fruitful and important for me", adding that "I will be more likely to succeed in my duties if I keep the support of this committee".

When asked how to improve transparency, Mr. Diamandouros emphasised that the Lisbon Treaty provisions will push the Council to become a more transparent institution. "Co-operation between institutions and awareness are the keys to improving transparency", he added, suggesting that for an ombudsman, transparency should be the main priority.

Mr. Diamandouros aims to better communicate the Ombudsman’s activities stating that "we have been working on an interactive guide to help citizens know which institution to address".

The Ombudsman’s priorities for the next five years:

 1. Ensure that citizens profit fully from the Treaty of Lisbon and the Charter of Fundamental Rights

The Ombudsman is determined to help citizens make full use of their rights, as provided for under the Treaty of Lisbon and the Charter of Fundamental Rights. This goal concerns specifically the right to good administration, the right of access to EU documents, the right to engage in dialogue with the EU institutions and the right to turn to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman will work with the EP and with national and regional ombudsmen in the Member States to inform citizens about their rights.

 2. Strengthen a "culture of service" to citizens within the EU administration

With the help of the Ombudsman, the EU administration should strengthen its "culture of service" to citizens. This includes a commitment to (a) greater transparency and good administration; and (b) informing citizens of their right to have their affairs handled impartially, fairly and within a reasonable time by the EU administration.

 3. Further improve the efficiency of the Ombudsman’s office

The Ombudsman is determined to improve his services by achieving results more quickly in his investigations and by rigorously self-assessing the institution’s handling of citizens’ complaints. He also wants to enhance his public visibility through targeted information campaigns. Moreover, he intends to further intensify cooperation with other information and problem-solving mechanisms, such as Europe Direct, SOLVIT and the European Network of Ombudsmen.

Commenting on his re-election Mr Diamandouros said: "I am very grateful for the support of the European Parliament and for this vote of confidence in my work. I look forward to continuing my efforts to improve the quality of the EU administration and to promote a culture of service in the EU institutions for the benefit of European citizens."

The European Ombudsman’s website

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