INTERVIEW Nikiforos Diamandouros
Citizens deserve greater openness from the EU
By Constant Brand - 18.03.2010 / 05:14 CET
At the start of his second five-year term as European ombudsman,
Nikiforos Diamandouros says that he will push forward the frontiers of more transparency in the EU.
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Europe's treatment of minorities endangers our core values. |
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France and UK hold up EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. |
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Malmström says scheme will ease asylum burden; family reunification also on the agenda. |
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EC
Fact file
Guiding citizens
Diamandouros' website has been revamped so as to give “clear, succinct, and easy-to-understand information on what the European ombudsman can do for you”. It offers an overview of what the ombudsman has achieved to date and explains how to lodge a complaint.
The website also contains an interactive guide to help citizens, businesses, and other organisations identify the most appropriate body to turn to with complaints.
Within the EU institutions, it directs visitors to the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament, the Solvit network for dealing with cross-border problems, the Citizens Signpost Service for problems with mobility in the European Economic Area, the European Consumer Centres Network for advice or for help with problems affecting cross-border shopping, and the Commission as the guardian of the application of EU law. It also provides links to national and regional ombudsmen throughout Europe.
In 2009 – the first year of operation for this service – more than 26,000 people sought and received advice from the ombudsman through this guide.
Malmström says scheme will ease asylum burden; family reunification also on the agenda.
France and UK hold up EU accession to the European Convention on Human Rights.
Europe's treatment of minorities endangers our core values.
Agreement on airline passenger data said to have tighter privacy safeguards, but MEPs are not convinced.
Non-EU workers to enjoy labour rights similar to those of EU citizens.
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