All strategic inquiries

As a follow-up to her previous inquiry on how the European Commission manages ‘revolving doors’, the Ombudsman has launched an own-initiative inquiry into how the Commission handles revolving doors situations of staff members who apply for unpaid leave to take up an outside activity and (senior) managers who apply for approval to take up an activity after leaving the Commission. The inquiry aims t...

The Ombudsman has opened an own-initiative inquiry to look into how the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) complies with its fundamental rights obligations and ensures accountability in relation to its new enhanced responsibilities. The inquiry will seek to clarify matters relating to the accountability of Frontex 'joint operations', activities related to 'returns' of migrants and to...

The Ombudsman opened an inquiry on her own initiative to look into how the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) deals with alleged breaches of fundamental rights through its ‘complainants mechanism’, and to address the role and independence of Frontex’s Fundamental Rights Officer in this regard. The inquiry uncovered delays by Frontex in implementing its new obligations concerning the ...

In the context of wider strategic work on the response of the EU administration during the COVID-19 crisis, the Ombudsman examined the work of the Council of the EU. In particular, the Ombudsman assessed the decision by the Council to derogate, temporarily, from its Rules of Procedure during the crisis, and the implications this has had for its decision-making process and the transparency thereof....

The Ombudsman has opened an own-initiative inquiry into how the European Defence Agency (EDA) handled the 'post-employment application' by its former Chief Executive to take on senior positions at Airbus Spain and at Airbus Defence and Space. The Ombudsman is concerned about the potential risk of conflicts of interest. As a first step in the inquiry, the Ombudsman sought to inspect documents of th...

In the context of wider strategic work on the response of the EU administration during the COVID-19 crisis, the Ombudsman has also been examining the work of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). This included a particular focus on how the ECDC has been gathering and assessing the data that underpins its work. The Ombudsman's inquiry highlighted shortcomings in how the dat...

The Ombudsman opened an own-initiative inquiry to look into how the European Commission monitors that European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds are used to promote the right of persons with disabilities and older persons to independent living. As a signatory of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), the EU is committed to promoting the right to independent liv...

2 December 2019 - Euro area Member States have improved public access to decision making following a request by the Ombudsman to Eurogroup President Mário Centeno. Under the changes, the draft agendas of the Eurogroup meetings will be published earlier in advance than previously and the letter summarising the meetings will be more detailed. Also, the dates of the Euro Working Group meetings will b...

Transparency of the bodies involved in preparing Eurogroup meetings.