First European Ombudsman presents his last Annual Report, April 2003

On 24 March 2003, the European Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, presented his Annual Report for 2002 to the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions.

The Report was Mr. Söderman's last, for he retired at the end of March, having been in post for seven years and seven months. During his tenure, he dealt with some 12,000 complaints and opened more than 1,500 investigations. He is succeeded by Mr. Nikiforos Diamandouros, who was elected by MEPs on 15 January. Mr Diamandouros takes up his post on 1 April, after completing almost five years as Greece's first Ombudsman. He was previously Professor of Political Science in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Athens.

Speaking to the EP's Committee on Petitions, Mr Söderman revealed that 2002 was his busiest year, with complaints for the first time exceeding 2,000 and some 50% being received via the internet.

'2002 was also a busy year for public relations' said Mr Söderman, with his Office issuing press releases at the rate of one every 10 days, and some 30,000 copies of publications being distributed to EU information centres and to organisations involved in EU affairs. This activity appears to have met with some success: the Annual Report pointed out that the right to complain to the Ombudsman is the second best known right of EU citizenship (based on the results of a Eurobarometer opinion poll at the end of 2002).

Efforts were also made to promote the work of the Ombudsman within the 10 Acceding Countries: two seminars were held for ombudsmen and similar bodies and a third is planned (on 30 May - 1 June, in Warsaw).

Given his belief that the Charter of Fundamental Rights should be legally binding, Mr Söderman emphasised in his presentation to the Committee on Petitions that 'Most of the main achievements during the year are related to promoting the application of the Charter - within the EU institutions.'

Some successes have flowed from his efforts, with both the Commission and the Parliament abolishing age limits in recruitment, and the former also abolishing a rule that had led to indirect sex discrimination. However, Mr Söderman pointed out, 'the Charter is not yet fully respected in the EU administration' with the Council's administration refusing to respect the Charter, arguing that it is only a political declaration, which is not legally binding - a situation which the Ombudsman described as 'rather troubling'.

With regard to the Convention on the Future of the European Union, Mr Söderman - an Observer at the Convention - wants an EU Constitution to include the right to petition the European Parliament and the right to complain to the Ombudsman.

In his farewell to the Committee on Petitions, Mr Söderman recalled that in his first - 1995 - Annual Report he had written that 'the right to petition the Parliament and the right to apply to the Ombudsman together constitute a unique possibility to promote the rights of the European citizens.' He was, he said, 'still convinced of this today'.

Links:
European Ombudsman:
	24.03.03:	Speech by the European Ombudsman, Mr Jacob Söderman to the Committee on Petitions concerning the presentation to the European Parliament of his Annual Report for 2002
	24.03.03:	Ombudsman bows out after busiest year ever
European Commission:
	24.03.03:	Ombudsman bows out after busiest year ever
Greek Ombudsman:
	Homepage

Eric Davies
Researcher
Compiled: Tuesday, 1 April 2003

On 24 March 2003, the European Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, presented his Annual Report for 2002 to the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions before he passes over the role to Greek, Nikiforos Diamandouros.