Cases
It is a right of an EU citizen, in the EU treaties, to be able to take a case to the ombudsman. (Article 20:2d TFEU) Each year the ombudsman receives about 3,000 to 4,000 complaints. 60–70% of these are related to the European Commission, 12% to Parliament and 10% to the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO): from dissatisfied applicants to the European Civil Service. The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) accounts for 9%.
These cases include a late payment from the Commission to a German science journalist. The Commission explained why, paid interest and accelerated future payments to experts. Following a complaint form a Hungarian, EPSO agreed to clarify information in recruitment competition notices concerning eligibility and pre-selection tests. Finally, the Ombudsman forced the Council to release documents to the public it previously denied existed.
However the ombudsman has a relatively low profile, particularly in the United Kingdom which was responsible for the smallest amount of cases lodged despite its eurosceptic reputation.
Read more about this topic: European Ombudsman
Famous quotes containing the word cases:
“And in cases where profound conviction has been wrought, the eloquent man is he who is no beautiful speaker, but who is inwardly drunk with a certain belief. It agitates and tears him, and perhaps almost bereaves him of the power of articulation.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“I want in all cases to do right.”
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)
“There are few cases in which mere popularity should be considered a proper test of merit; but the case of song-writing is, I think, one of the few.”
—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1845)