Strasbourg, 12-02-2007

Frau Dr. Angela Merkel
Bundeskanzlerin
Bundeskanzleramt
Willy-Brandt-Strasse 1
D - 0557 Berlin

Dear Dr Merkel,

I am writing to you concerning the ‘Berlin Declaration’, currently being prepared by the German EU Presidency to mark the 50 th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome. The Declaration offers a unique opportunity to put the concerns of European citizens at the top of the Union’s agenda. As European Ombudsman, I know that shortcomings in the quality of services delivered by public administrations at the European and Member State levels limit the practical benefit that citizens derive from European cooperation. Promoting good administration therefore deserves a central place in an agenda focused on citizens and should figure prominently in the Declaration.

Good administration means:

• A citizen-centred administration
  There has been significant progress in recent years towards creating a culture of service to citizens in the Union Institutions and bodies. More needs to be done, however.



• An open and accountable administration
  Transparency and accountability go hand in hand, and are key to building citizens' trust in the Union.



• An administration focused on results
  EU law should be put into effect by public administrations throughout the Union so that citizens can make full use of their EU law rights. Where problems arise, quick and effective remedies should be available.

I truly believe that by including good administration among the values the Union holds dear, we can show that we are taking citizens' concerns on board. Further information is available in the attached Annex.

I very much look forward to meeting with you in Berlin on 20 March to discuss how to bring the European Union closer to its citizens and how to promote good administration.

Yours sincerely,

 

Professor Dr. P. Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS

Enclosure: 1

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Annex

The European Ombudsman proposes that good administration be included as a core value of the Union in the Berlin Declaration currently being prepared by the German EU Presidency to mark the 50 th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome.

Good administration means:

A citizen-centred administration

A citizen-centred administration keeps bureaucracy to a minimum. It ensures that affairs are handled impartially, fairly and within a reasonable time. The recent initiatives of the Commission and the German EU Presidency to reduce the administrative cost on businesses and to cut red tape constitute good examples of what can be done to help make the citizens' fundamental right to good administration a reality.

An open and accountable administration

Greater access to information and more open decision-making procedures will make for a more accountable EU administration. The Ombudsman strongly supports the proposal of Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, to include accountability, and more specifically the principle of transparency, in the Berlin Declaration. Transparency, accountability and good administration are key to building citizens' trust in the Union.

An administration focused on results

EU law should be put into effect by public administrations throughout the Union, with an eye to ensuring that decisions taken in Brussels are properly followed through at the level of the Member States. Continued failure to deliver on citizens' EU law rights will only further alienate citizens and confirm any bad impressions that some of them may already have. Where problems arise, quick and effective remedies should be available. Then citizens will truly be able to enjoy their rights under EU law.