The European Ombudsman, Mr. Jacob Söderman, has succeeded in obtaining full payment, including interest, for a British citizen who took part in monitoring the Palestinian elections in 1996.
The complainant had contacted the Ombudsman after the European Commission refused to pay him the fee level appropriate for the role of Regional Coordinator -a role that he had performed at the request of the European Election Unit. Instead, he had been paid the daily allowance received as a European Union observer of the Palestinian election process.
The European Commission maintained that it had not been informed of the role undertaken by the complainant, and that it was for the Council of the EU to determine both the responsibilities and the remuneration levels of those monitoring the elections on behalf of the Union. The Commission was simply required to make payments as appropriate. The Commission could not therefore take the decision to pay the complainant the monies claimed.
To cut through difficulties caused by lack of communication between the Commission and the Council regarding the role of the complainant, the Ombudsman decided to contact the Council to confirm the nature of the work undertaken by the complainant and the sum therefore owed to him. The reply from the Council confirmed the validity of the complaint.
Following the intervention of the Ombudsman, a friendly solution was reached between the European Commission and the complainant, by which the full sum owed to the complainant, as well as interest accrued, was paid. The complainant expressed his satisfaction at the outcome obtained by the Ombudsman.
For further information, please contact Mr. Ian Harden, Head of Secretariat, tel. +33 (0)3 88 17 23 84.