Dear Mr D.,

On 17 September 2001, you lodged a complaint with the European Ombudsman against the European Parliament, concerning the failure of that institution to reply to your letters of 17 April, 14 June, and 23 October 2000. Your letters had been addressed to the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities, and related to petition number 253/1998.

On 25 October 2001, I forwarded the complaint to the President of the European Parliament. I received the Parliament's opinion on 16 January 2002.

In its opinion, the Parliament described its handling of petition 253/1998. It explained that the Committee on Petitions had examined the petition on 25-26 May 1999, and concluded that there was no Community competence regarding the subject-matter of your petition. You were informed of the Committee's decision by letter of its Chairman dated 9 July 1999. The Committee's opinion was also submitted for information to the Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities and to the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Internal Market.

The Committee on Women's Rights and Equal Opportunities considered the petition in its meeting on 26-27 November 2001. In line with the views expressed by the Committee on Petitions, it concluded that there was no Community competence concerning the problem you had denounced. In reply to your previous correspondence of 17 April, 14 June and 23 October 2000, the Chairwoman of the Committee, Mrs Theorin, informed you of the Committee's position on 3 December 2001. I have enclosed a copy of her letter with this decision.

The opinion from the European Parliament also apologises for the delay in answering your letters, and invites you to submit any observations you may have.

Since the European Parliament has replied to your letters and apologised for its delay, the Ombudsman considers that the Parliament has already taken the necessary steps to settle the matter. The Ombudsman therefore closes the case.

The President of the European Parliament will also be informed of this decision.

Yours sincerely,

 

Jacob SÖDERMAN