The European Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, has added material to his website in the languages of all the applicant countries for EU membership. The 2-page document entitled "A Brief Guide to the European Ombudsman" covers the role of the European Ombudsman and gives samples of cases he has dealt with.

This makes the Ombudsman one of the first EU institutions to offer information in the Central and Eastern European languages on his website. Commenting on the development, Mr. Söderman said "I want citizens from the applicant countries to know what service we can provide for them upon accession".

To further increase awareness of the Ombudsman in Central and Eastern Europe, Mr. Söderman has visited a number of the applicant countries with recent trips to Poland, Romania and Cyprus. As a result, the European Ombudsman is now the second best known EU institution in Slovenia, with 74% of citizens there having heard of him(1). 24 million Polish citizens are aware of the European Ombudsman, making him the third best known EU institution there.

 

"A Brief Guide to the European Ombudsman" in the applicant country languages can be found by clicking on the appropriate language bar at:
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/home/en/default.htm

 

For further information, please call Rosita Agnew, Press Officer; tel : 00 33 3 88 17 24 08.

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(1) According to the Candidate countries Eurobarometer 2001 released in March 2002.