The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has been awarded the decoration of Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix by the President of the Republic of Greece, Mr. Constantinos Stefanopoulos. This is the highest ranked decoration of the Order of the Phoenix being awarded for 2003, the other recipient being the President of the European Court of Justice, Mr. Vassilios Skouris. Mr. Diamandouros received the award in recognition of his election as European Ombudsman in 2003.

The Order of the Phoenix is conferred upon Greek citizens who have excelled in the fields of public administration, science, arts and letters, commerce, industry and shipping. Grand Commander is the second highest class of the five classes of the Order.

The decoration will be presented to the Ombudsman by the Greek Ambassador to the Council of Europe, Mr. Constantine Gerokostopoulos, at an award ceremony in Strasbourg later today.

Background

Mr. Diamandouros was elected European Ombudsman by the European Parliament on 15 January 2003. He began work as European Ombudsman on 1 April 2003. Mr Diamandouros was previously National Ombudsman of Greece, having been appointed Greece's first National Ombudsman in 1998.

 

For further information, please call Mr. Nicholas Catephores, Assistant to the Ombudsman, tel. +33 3 88 17 23 83.