Press Release: EU ‘cohesion’ policy: Ombudsman investigates protection of fundamental rights

On 21 May 2014, the European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, opened an investigation on her own initiative into respect for fundamental rights in the EU's "cohesion" policy. The Ombudsman had received many complaints in this area, for example about problems small businesses faced when accessing EU funds, or from applicants for EU projects who alleged discrimination. The Ombudsman's investigation would focus on the Commission's role in ensuring that EU funding was used in ways that comply with the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

European Ombudsman: Letter to the European Commission opening own-initiative inquiry OI/8/2014/AN concerning the respect for fundamental rights in the implementation of the EU cohesion policy http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/cases/correspondence.faces/en/54419/html.bookmark

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