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The case concerned the eligibility criteria applied in the EU Election Observation Missions Roster (EOM Roster), an electronic system of candidates for observers and core team members participating in EU election observation missions. Observer positions are open to EU citizens and the nationals of Canada, Switzerland and Norway, based on arrangements with these countries. Core team positions are open to EU citizens only.

The complaint concerned changes in the EOM Roster introduced in January 2022, which affected candidates holding dual nationality. Following this change, candidates could change their declared nationality only once per year. Due to this timeframe, the complainant could not change his previously declared Swiss nationality to Polish, which he also held. This meant he could not apply for a core team position. He considered the new rules discriminatory and non-transparent.

In response to the Ombudsman’s inquiry, the Commission admitted having not fully considered the impact of the new rules on the specific situation of candidates holding dual EU and non-EU nationality who wish to apply for core team positions. It committed to adjusting the rules and improving transparency around the rules. Following this, the complainant was able to apply for a core team position based on his Polish nationality.

The Ombudsman therefore closed the inquiry by considering that the Commission has settled the complaint.

The case concerned the decision by the European Commission to recover EU funds granted under a contract for the provision of technical assistance in Gabon. The complainant considered that the cost of the protective measures it had adopted when the ‘contracting authority’ suspended the contract should have been added to the price of the contract, and thus covered by EU funds. The complainant also claimed that, as the amount recovered by the Commission was equivalent to the amount owed to the complainant by the contracting authority for the protective measures, the Commission should have offset the amount it sought to recover by this amount.

The Ombudsman considered that there was a sound legal basis for the Commission’s decision, and that it was reasonable for the Commission to recover the funds. The Ombudsman therefore closed the inquiry with a finding of no maladministration.

The case concerned the decision of the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) not to allow a candidate, who was placed in COVID-19 quarantine, to reschedule her test in the context of a selection procedure for contract agent staff (CAST Permanent selection procedure).

The Ombudsman found that EPSO provided reasonable explanations as to why it was not able to provide an alternative testing date to the complainant. On that basis, the Ombudsman closed the inquiry with a finding that there was no maladministration by EPSO.

The case concerns the European Commission‘s refusal to extend the time limit for a retired staff member to request the resettlement allowance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The complainant argued that due to the outbreak of the pandemic, she was not able to organise her resettlement to her place of origin within the prescribed time limit and asked the Commission to grant her an extension. 

The Ombudsman found that the decision of the Commission is in line with the Staff Regulations and EU case-law. The Ombudsman therefore closed the inquiry with a finding of no maladministration.