EU: The Ombudsman praises NGOs

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has explained the importance of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in reporting cases of maladministration in the EU institutions.

Over the past ten years, NGOs and associations, including Statewatch, Corporate Europe Observatory, and the European Citizen Action Service (ECAS), have sent almost 1,000 complaints to the Ombudsman's office. The assumed maladministration concerns environmental projects, late payment for EU contracts and lack of transparency in the EU institutions.

Starting from two recent complaints, raised by two Polish NGOs and Greenpeace, Mr Diamandouros has commented: "The Ombudsman relies on complaints from NGOs to help him uncover possible instances of maladministration in EU institutions. The institutions, in turn, profit from the active involvement of NGOs to help them rectify problems in the system."

Notes:

• Two Polish environmental NGOs complained to the Ombudsman about the EIB's (European Investment Bank) failure to respect the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive during flood reconstruction and repair works in Poland in 2001. The Ombudsman issued a critical remark. (http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/decision/en/061807.htm)

• Greenpeace has complained about the practice of "trading working places" between the Commission and the lobbying chemical industry. The Ombudsman did not find maladministration however, he underlined the importance of transparency in relation to lobbying activities during EU legislative procedures. (http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/decision/en/062740.htm)

More info:
www.ombudsman.europa.eu