All strategic inquiries
Beyond inquiries into specific complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions, the European Ombudsman also has the power to proactively work on broader strategic issues. The Ombudsman carries out strategic investigations on her own initiative, which aim to draw attention to matters of public interest and look into wider systemic issues affecting the EU institutions and the democratic decision-making process.
Showing 1 - 10 of 76 results
How the European Commission ensures respect for fundamental rights in EU-funded migration management facilities in Greece
Strategic Inquiry OI/3/2022/MHZ - Latest document added: Decision - Friday | 09 June 2023
The Ombudsman opened an own-initiative inquiry to assess how the European Commission ensures respect for fundamental rights in EU-funded migration management facilities in Greece. The inquiry was opened in response to concerns that have been raised about the ‘Multi-Purpose Reception and Identification Centres’ (MPRICs) for accommodating migrants and asylum seekers. In particular, concerns that the...
How the European Commission manages ‘revolving doors’ moves of its staff members
Strategic Inquiry OI/1/2021/KR - Latest document added: Correspondence - Friday | 09 June 2023
As a follow up to a previous inquiry, the Ombudsman carried out an own-initiative inquiry into how the Commission handles 'revolving doors' situations of staff members who apply to take up an outside activity while on unpaid leave on personal grounds, and (former) staff members who apply for approval to take up an activity after leaving the Commission. The inquiry looked at 100 revolving door file...
The time taken by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to deal with requests for public access to documents
Strategic Inquiry OI/4/2022/PB - Latest document added: Recommendation - Thursday | 01 June 2023
The Ombudsman opened an own-initiative inquiry to look into how the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) deals with requests for public access to documents. The inquiry stemmed from information raised in a complaint to the Ombudsman about systematic delays and other issues in how Frontex handles public access requests. The Ombudsman's inquiry found issues with two practices used by Fro...
The use by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) of remote testing only for the 'pre-selection' tests in a selection procedure to recruit EU civil servants (Assistants AST3 - EPSO/AST/154/22)
Strategic Inquiry OI/1/2023/VS - Latest document added: Correspondence - Wednesday | 17 May 2023
The Ombudsman received a considerable number of complaints concerning the use of remote testing only for the 'pre-selection tests' in a selection procedure for recruiting EU civil servants (Assistants AST3 - EPSO/AST/154/22), organised by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). The complaints concerned the practical implications of the decision that the tests should take place only remotel...
The transparency of the European Commission’s interactions with representatives of the tobacco industry
Strategic Inquiry OI/6/2021/KR - Latest document added: Correspondence - Tuesday | 18 April 2023
The Ombudsman launched an own-initiative inquiry to examine the transparency of meetings between the European Commission and representatives of the tobacco industry, as well as to assess how the Commission complies with the relevant provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization. The Ombudsman inquiry team inspected certain documents held by the Commissi...
The time taken by the European Commission to deal with requests for public access to documents
Strategic Inquiry OI/2/2022/OAM - Latest document added: Recommendation - Tuesday | 28 March 2023
The Ombudsman’s own-initiative inquiry looked into how the European Commission deals with requests for public access to documents; in particular, how it complies with the time limits for dealing with requests, which are set out in the EU legislation on public access to documents. The Ombudsman’s inquiry found that there are systemic and significant delays, particularly in how the Commission deals ...
How the European Central Bank (ECB) deals with ‘revolving door’ cases
Strategic Inquiry OI/1/2022/KR - Latest document added: Decision - Friday | 28 October 2022
The Ombudsman carried out an own-initiative inquiry to look into how the European Central Bank (ECB) deals with 'revolving door' cases, whereby members of its staff take up employment in the private sector. The inquiry also assessed how the ECB handled the request by a staff member to take up employment with a private sector bank in a job that relates to his previous area of work at the ECB. The O...
How the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) complies with its fundamental rights obligations and ensures accountability in relation to its enhanced responsibilities
Strategic Inquiry OI/4/2021/MHZ - Latest document added: Correspondence - Monday | 18 July 2022
The Ombudsman carried out 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 sought to clarify matters relating to the accountability of Frontex 'joint operations', notably with regard to activities related to 'return...
How the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) deals with complaints about alleged fundamental rights breaches through its 'Complaints Mechanism'
Strategic Inquiry OI/5/2020/MHZ - Latest document added: Correspondence - Wednesday | 08 June 2022
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 ...
How the European Commission monitors EU Structural and Investment funds to ensure they are used to promote the right of persons with disabilities to independent living and inclusion in the community
Strategic Inquiry OI/2/2021/MHZ - Latest document added: Correspondence - Tuesday | 10 May 2022
The inquiry concerned how the European Commission monitors that Member States use EU Structural and Investment (ESI) funds to promote the right of persons with disabilities to independent living (‘deinstitutionalisation’), and whether the Commission applies sanctions if they do not. Deinstitutionalisation is an objective of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which the...