Dear Luís Almeida Capão, Vice-Presidente da Câmara Municipal de Cascais,

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

Dear Helfried Carl, founder and CEO of the European Capital of Democracy,

Dear finalists (congratulations!),

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be with you this afternoon, particularly here in Cascais, the European Capital of Democracy 2026, a place that is especially meaningful to me, as it is also my home.

Portugal has a long history of innovation, exploration, and the courage to venture into the unknown.

When I think of this spirit, one historical figure who comes to mind is Infante D. Henrique, whose vision helped inspire Portugal's Age of Discoveries in the 15th century. I have always been particularly inspired by the motto attributed to him: “the talent for doing good”.

For me, these words capture something essential about innovation: it is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. It must have meaning, purpose and, above all, a positive impact on society.

We should use our talents, not simply to innovate, but to make a positive difference. That, to me, is what democratic innovation is all about.

And we are here to celebrate democratic innovation across Europe.

Democracy is more than a principle. It must be something people experience in their everyday lives.

That means constantly finding new and better ways to put democratic values into practice.

The eighty projects represented here are excellent examples of this. They address challenges that citizens face in their everyday lives, offering forward-looking solutions that translate democratic principles into tangible improvements.

But what does the European Ombudsman have to do with all this?

Actually, quite a lot!

Your purpose today is to exchange good practices, break down barriers, and learn from one another, so that you can better serve the citizens you represent.

This is a mission we share at the European Ombudsman. We, too, work to ensure that EU institutions serve citizens better.

And, like you, we believe in the importance of recognising and encouraging good administration through an award.

This year, we held the fifth edition of the Award for Good Administration, recognising and showcasing good practices across the EU administration.

As I reviewed the nominees here tonight, I was reminded of the difficult task I once had when selecting between so many impressive projects. Thankfully, that is not my responsibility today!

Today, I am here to encourage all of you – just as I have encouraged my colleagues at the European level – to continue your work with dedication, creativity, and a strong sense of public service.

Looking at all these inspiring projects, allow me to highlight three aspects that particularly caught my attention.

First, inclusion. I would particularly like to congratulate the projects addressing challenges faced by people with disabilities. These initiatives have a special meaning for me, as the European Ombudsman also works to uphold the rights of people with disabilities within the EU administration.

We know how challenging it can be to remove barriers and ensure equal opportunities. But this is precisely where innovation is most needed: to turn inclusion from an aspiration into a reality.

I hope these projects will inspire many others to follow their example.

Second, the defence and strengthening of democracy itself. I was impressed by how many of your projects contribute to this.

Take Ukraine, where a transparent digital system is helping families rebuild homes damaged by the war. It reminds us that transparency is not simply an administrative formality. It is a way of rebuilding trust – and, in this case, even rebuilding lives.

And third, the role of technology in serving people. Several projects highlight that technology serves democracy best when it is designed with people, not simply for them.

As artificial intelligence increasingly enters public administration, including at EU level, this is a message we should all carry with us.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me return, in closing, to Infante D. Henrique, the man the world remembers as Henry the Navigator.

From this very coast, the ships he inspired set out across uncharted oceans. They had no maps for what lay ahead. What they had was a sense of direction: they adjusted their sails to every change of wind, but they steered by the stars.

I believe this is a powerful metaphor for democratic innovation today.

The winds are strong: new technologies, faster-moving crises, and citizens who rightly expect more from us. We must therefore be bold with our sails. We must experiment, adapt and learn from one another across borders, as you are doing tonight.

But we must keep our eyes on the stars: the public interest, fairness, transparency and the dignity of every person, especially those too often left at the margins.

An Ombudsman has a duty to keep hope alive. And tonight, that is not difficult. Hope is here in this room, embodied in eighty projects that have chosen not only to do good, but to do it well.

Change course when you must, but never your guiding star.

That, to me, is the true talent for doing good.

I count on each and every one of you. And you can count on me and on my Office.

Thank you.