Debate: Activities of the European Ombudsman in
Date: WEDNESDAY, 15 JANUARY 2020
Speaker: Emily O'Reilly
Language: EN

Could I begin with Ms Kirton-Darling: it’s not often that an Irish person expresses sadness at seeing British people leave, but in this case I do want to say how sad we are, and also want to thank you for your wonderful cooperation and support with my office, and with the Ombudsman institution generally over the last number of years. I have to say, I was particularly impressed over the last few months, in particular in the last year, when things must have been so stressful for all of you. The diligence and the integrity with which you continue to do your work and take an interest in things here, and even in this small office, when there were so many bigger things clamouring for your attention. I wish you all of the very best and we will miss you, and thank you. Could I say, just taking up some of the points that were made. Thank you Mr Terheş for your comments, for your work and for your praise for my work and the work of the colleagues.  Ms Toom, thank you for taking note of issues that arose in relation to the election procedure, the Rules of Procedure. It won’t be my problem in five years’ time, but there is an important conversation to be had in relation to the election of the European Ombudsman. In relation to the case involving the former secretary, the appointment of the former Secretary-General of the Commission: yes, the outgoing Commission, the last Commission, did reject the recommendation. But as Vice-President Šefčovič has just noted, this time it was different, and the appointment of the new Secretary-General has been pretty much in line with the recommendations that we made in our investigation. Mr Złotowski: the trilogues – yes, we have investigated that in the past, it’s unfinished business, and we shall be going back to see what is happening there.  Mr Georgoulis: yes, citizens’ participation is absolutely vital, and particularly for the legitimacy of the EU, and that underpins so much of the work that we do. I agree with Mr Furore, the right of access 1049/2001 is an old regulation, but even short of revising it, there is still an awful lot we can do to have more recommendations accepted, more documents made accessible to the people whom we serve. Council transparency – yes, our big piece, work in progress, but I can see progress and I note in particular that from an issue that was somewhat marginal and somewhat within the Brussels and Strasbourg bubble, it is now becoming more mainstream. Ms Evi, thank you for all your great support. Transparency again: the ECB, all of these agencies and institutions – we need to open them up to greater public scrutiny into greater accountability. The comments in relation to disability, to assisted technology; we certainly take them on board, and we take those particular issues a particularly seriously. I was very pleased to see just last week, the EEAS advertising for paid traineeships, and that arises out of the joint work of my Office and with many people from the Parliament, led by Mr Benifei. So, many ideas there. Thank you again for your support and for once again re-electing me and trusting me with this very important Office.