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European Ombudsman
European Ombudsman
Complaints from citizens, companies, NGOs, business associations….
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European Ombudsman Bridge between citizens and the EU - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
European Ombudsman Bridge between citizens and the EU - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
European Ombudsman Bridge between citizens and the EU administration European Ombudsman Complaints from citizens, companies, NGOs, business associations. European Ombudsman 2 Most cases: About alleged lack of transparency in the EU
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European Ombudsman
Most cases: About alleged lack of transparency in the EU administration
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European Ombudsman
Alleged lack of transparency
20-30% of all cases Refusal to give access
to EU documents
EU decision-making Lobbying transparency “Revolving doors”
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European Ombudsman
Other examples of individual complaints
Problems with EU
funded projects and programmes
Language policy for
EU websites or public consultations
How is EU money
spent (e.g. Cohesion Fund)?
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European Ombudsman 6
Inquiries conducted by EU institution
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European Ombudsman
…and strategic inquiries
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European Ombudsman
Strategic inquiries
In the public interest Systemic problems in the EU administration Own-initiative inquiries Achieve “gold standards” Public consultations Cooperation with the European Network of
Ombudsmen
Use limited resources in the best way
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European Ombudsman
Transparency of TTIP negotiations
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European Ombudsman
TTIP transparency
TTIP will affect lives of
500 million in EU
EU Commission now
publishes more position papers, fact sheets, legal texts
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EO: No US veto against
disclosure of consolidated TTIP chapters
Extend transparency
- bligations for meetings
with lobbyists (down to negotiator level)
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European Ombudsman
Transparency in the ECB
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European Ombudsman
ECB transparency
May 2015: ECB governing board member
released information at private dinner in London
EO asked for clarifications ECB reviewed its transparency policy New rules for speaking engagements Publication of calendars of governing board
members
Extension of “quiet period” in week running up
to monetary policy meetings
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European Ombudsman
Complaint about EU Commission not complying with UN tobacco lobbying rules
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European Ombudsman
EO recommendations in tobacco lobbying case
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Policy-making in public health has to be as transparent as possible, especially when it comes to tobacco control
Obligations under WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
Tobacco lobbyists – very sophisticated “under the radar” methods
Commission should pro-actively publish ALL meetings with tobacco lobbyists and minutes of meetings
Lawyers representing the tobacco industry are also lobbyists
Commission did not follow the recommendations - missed
- pportunity to show global leadership in the vital area of
tobacco lobbying
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European Ombudsman
Parallel investigations – Frontex/forced returns
Joint Return Operations
19 Ombudsman offices conducted inquiries
How are human rights
- bligations upheld?
Call for Frontex’ complaints mechanism
Commission proposed European Border and Coastguard (including complaints mechanism)
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European Ombudsman
Inquiry into trilogue transparency How the deals are done
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European Ombudsman
Inquiry against Council, Commission, EP
Around 80% of EU laws are now agreed at first
reading
Mapping exercise about trilogue transparency EO asked for information about disclosure policy
(minutes, list of meetings, documents)
Opinions received Closed files inspected: Clinical Trials Regulation &
Mortgage Credit Directive
Public consultation open until 31 March ‘16
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European Ombudsman
Eurogroup transparency
June 2015: Complaint about lack
- f transparency of Eurogroup
meetings
February 2016: Eurogroup President Dijsselbloem tabled proactive transparency measures, including publishing:
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- Detailed meeting agendas
- Eurogroup summing-up letter
- Programme-country related documents
(ahead of decisions) and notes presented to Eurogroup (after meetings)
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European Ombudsman
Ombudsman follow-up letter
EO welcomes proactive transparency measures
How will Eurogroup deal with requests for documents not published proactively?
What about proactive transparency measures for preparatory bodies e.g. Eurogroup Working Group?
How to get an overview of Eurogroup documentation?
Reply expected by 30 June
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European Ombudsman