The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, will visit Hungary next week to raise awareness of citizens' rights and remedies in the run-up to accession. During his visit, the Ombudsman will meet with the Hungarian Prime Minister and the Parliamentary Commissioners and will address the International Conference entitled "The European Constitution - A Vision for Europe".

Commenting on the upcoming visit, Mr Diamandouros said: "From 1 May next year, citizens of the accession countries will be citizens of the Union and will enjoy the range of rights that go along with this. In order to make full use of their rights, Hungarian citizens, and citizens of all the accession countries, must be aware of their rights and how best to exercise them."

Programme

On Monday 27 October, the Ombudsman will have a discussion with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Civil Rights, Professor Barnabás Lenkovics and his Deputy, Albert Takács, the Parliamentary Commissioner for National and Ethnic Minority Rights, Jenõ Kaltenbach, and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, Attila Péterfalvy. This should help further develop co-operation between the two offices so as to ensure that citizens' rights in Hungary are fully protected. Mr. Diamandouros will then meet the Vice-Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, László Mandur. In the afternoon, the Ombudsman will give a public lecture in the Eötvös Loránd University entitled "Democracy, Accountability and the Institution of Ombudsman".

On Tuesday 28 October, the Ombudsman will meet the Prime Minister, Péter Medgyessy. In the afternoon, he will address an international conference organised by the Prime Minister's Office on the draft Constitution for Europe. The official visit will end with a press conference at the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioners.

Background

In the months leading up to the enlargement of the Union, the European Ombudsman will visit the ten accession countries in order to inform citizens of their rights. Hungary is the second country on the Ombudsman's information tour, following his mission to Estonia in September.

 

For further information, please call Rosita Agnew, Press Officer, tel. +33 6 78 16 06 19.