Dear President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides,

Dear Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides,

Dear colleagues and friends,

I am honoured to be here this evening to celebrate the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Office of the Ombudsman of Cyprus.

Just last month, Ombudswoman Stylianou-Lottides was with me at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to mark thirty years of the European Network of Ombudsmen. It is a pleasure to now be a guest here in Nicosia and bring the European Ombudsman closer to Cypriot citizens.

I am also very much looking forward, as I am sure you all are, to the discussions over the coming days. Discussions that will help us find better ways to solve people's problems, promote administrative fairness, and strengthen cooperation between our offices, at both national and European level.

Let me begin, however, by noting the importance of marking milestones such as this one.

The work we do as ombudsmen can often be daunting. We are responsible for investigating complaints, challenging maladministration, confronting corruption, and addressing violations of fundamental rights.

We work to bridge the gap between society’s most vulnerable – persons with disabilities, children, migrants, individuals experiencing economic hardship – and much more mighty government institutions. We are often called upon to restore access to justice and to speak uncomfortable truths to power.

In other words, little about our work is easy. And the road ahead is rarely free of obstacles.

Yet, it is precisely for this reason that we must occasionally pause and look back. We must recognise how far we have come, and what we have achieved individually and together.

Looking back is not simply an exercise in remembering the past. It gives renewed impetus to our mission. It reminds us that we have built strong foundations on which to meet the challenges ahead. And it allows us to take stock, anticipate change, and prepare for what comes next.

As coordinator of the European Network of Ombudsmen, I recently had the honour to present a thirtieth anniversary book laying out the network’s history and achievements to the European Parliament.

Its pages bring together the collective experience of ombudsmen across Europe. They tell individual stories of how we have used European law and the principles enshrined in the EU Treaties to make a tangible difference in people's lives.

The contribution from Cyprus featured several notable cases where the Ombudsman helped persons with disabilities facing difficulties with public administration, for instance in applying for and receiving citizenship or in obtaining reasonable accommodation in university entrance examinations.

These are not simply examples of good administrative practice. They are examples of how our work can change people's lives. They show what happens when institutions listen, when rights are upheld, and when someone is prepared to stand up for those who might otherwise go unheard.

And that, ultimately, is what our institutions are here for.

Dear colleagues,

We live in increasingly trying times – times of rapid technological change, progressively transactional global politics, and a worrying decline in trust in public institutions.

In the face of these realities, our work as ombudsmen is likely to grow not only in importance but also in complexity.

We must therefore look ahead with both determination and a clear sense of responsibility.

For instance, what can be done to guarantee that government decision-making remains inclusive even during crises? Or how do we ensure public administrations remain transparent and accountable when they employ AI tools in their work?

These are not merely technical or administrative questions. At their heart are fundamental questions about fairness, accountability, human rights and the relationship between citizens and the state.

In today’s tumultuous world, I believe we ombudsmen also serve as something akin to observatories. Our focus is not on the movement of celestial bodies, but on the changing landscape of public administration.

Through the complaints we receive, we can identify patterns that others may overlook. We can see beyond individual cases and recognise wider problems. Above all, we can see the human consequences of incorrect or unfair administrative decisions.

And from this unique and privileged vantage point of ours, we can alert public institutions to emerging forms of unfairness, identify gaps in legislation and highlight procedures that are not working as intended. And our role does not end with identifying problems. We can also help institutions find solutions that are effective, fair, and firmly rooted in the principles of good administration.

This is an important part of our contribution to democracy. We do not simply hold public administration to account. We also help it become better.

By doing so, we show citizens that their institutions can listen and respond. That public power can be exercised responsibly. And that, even when things go wrong, there is someone ready to listen, to stand up for their rights, and to help put things right.

Ultimately, public trust is not built through words or declarations alone. It is built through actions – through fairness, accountability, and the everyday experience of citizens who feel that their voices matter.

This is the responsibility we share, and it is the purpose that brings us together here today.

My deepest congratulations once again to the Office of the Ombudsman of Cyprus on their thirty-fifth anniversary.

May this anniversary be not only a celebration of thirty-five years of achievements, but also an inspiration for the important work that lies ahead.

Thank you.