The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, is pleased to invite you to a high-level debate on the key issues facing EU and national administrations. The event brings together for the first time national and regional ombudsmen from all over Europe, as well as MEPs, EU officials, organisations and other interested participants. It will examine Europe's response to the refugee crisis and to challenges to the rule of law; as well as lobbying transparency within the EU institutions and the Member States.

Ombudsmen are often at the forefront when it comes to gauging how fundamental rights are being respected at the national level. They can observe wider societal change either through the direct issues raised by citizens or in how their work is treated by national administrations. The European Ombudsman chairs the European Network of Ombudsmen and coordinates cooperation among colleagues in the Member States.

Lately the EU has been faced with several challenges, including the rise of populism, growing anti-EU sentiment, terror attacks and unprecedented levels of migration. How are these challenges manifested at the local, regional and national level in the EU? And what can EU policy-makers learn from those who deal with the fall-out from these challenges in their day-to-day work?

Join the debates and sign up for the networking lunch on 13 June! We are happy to arrange interviews for journalists with event speakers or national or regional ombudsmen.

Monday, 13 June, 9.00-11.00

Registration 8.30-9.00

EU and Member States' efforts to help refugees

• Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman
• Monique Pariat, Director-General, Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, European Commission
• Fabrice Leggeri, Executive Director, Frontex
• Michael O'Flaherty, Director, European Fundamental Rights Agency
• Sylvia Stierstorfer, Chair of the Bavarian Petitions Committee
• Vasileios Karydis, Acting Ombudsman of Greece

Monday, 13 June, 11.30-13.00

Promoting lobbying transparency as good administration

• Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman
• Paraskevi Michou, Deputy Secretary General, European Commission
• Peter Tyndall, Ombudsman of Ireland
• Reinier van Zutphen, Ombudsman of The Netherlands
• Christof-Sebastian Klitz, Head of EU office, Volkswagen

Tuesday, 14 June, 9.00-10.45

Respect for the rule of law in the EU

• Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman
• Sophie in't Veld, Member of the European Parliament
• Roza Thun, Member of the European Parliament
• Tony Agotha, Dutch EU Presidency, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Netherlands
• Jan Wouters, Professor of International Law and International Organisations at KU Leuven

Moderator:

• Shada Islam

Registration

Interested in attending? Please register by 27 May 2016.

• Registration Form - The refugee crisis and upholding the rule of law. Are Member States rising to the challenge?