The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, will visit Paris from 1 to 2 December. His visit marks the completion of his information tour of the EU Member States. Mr Diamandouros will be hosted by the National Ombudsman of France, Mr Jean-Paul Delevoye, and will meet with the Minister for European Affairs, Mrs Claudie Haigneré, the Secretary of State responsible for State Reform, Mr Eric Woerth, the Vice-President of the Council of State, Mr Renaud Denoix de Saint-Marc and Mr Jean-Claude Colliard, Member of the Constitutional Council. The Ombudsman will give a lecture at the Paris Institute of Political Studies and speak at a press event organised by the Representation of the European Commission and the Office of the European Parliament.

Since taking up the post of European Ombudsman in April 2003, Mr Diamandouros has pursued a programme of information visits to help increase citizens' knowledge of their rights at the European level and of their right to complain to the European Ombudsman in particular. This has allowed him to present his work to thousands of citizens in all 25 Member States. The unprecedented 54% rise in complaints to the Ombudsman since the beginning of this year indicates that citizens, NGOs, associations and businesses are becoming increasingly aware of their right to complain to the European Ombudsman about maladministration in the EU institutions and bodies.

Programme for Paris

On Wednesday 1 December, Mr Diamandouros will meet with his French counterpart, Mr Jean-Paul Delevoye, and his senior staff to explore ways of further developing co-operation between their offices. He will then meet with Mr Bernard Stasi, former French Ombudsman, now charged with establishing the French High Authority to Combat Discrimination and Promote Equality. In the afternoon, Mr Diamandouros will meet with the Secretary of State responsible for State Reform, before continuing to the Office of the Prime Minister, where he will meet with the European Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mrs Pascale Andreani.

On Thursday 2 December, Mr Diamandouros will meet the Vice-President of the Council of State, Mr Renaud Denoix de Saint-Marc. He will then address a student audience at the Paris Institute of Political Studies on "The European Ombudsman and European citizenship". In the afternoon, the Ombudsman will speak on the topic: "The European Union: citizens' rights and the ombudsman" at a press meeting organised by the Representation of the European Commission and the Office of the European Parliament. The Ombudsman will complete his visit with meetings with the Minister for European Affairs and a Member of the Constitutional Council.

 

For further information, please call Rosita Agnew, Press and Communications Officer, tel. +32 2 284 25 42.