On 12 and 13 January, a meeting of the European Network of Ombudsmen (ENO) took place in Málaga, Spain. The event was co-organised by the Andalusian Ombudsman and the European Ombudsman. The Human Rights Ombudsman was represented at the meeting by Deputy Ombudsman Miha Horvat and Deputy Ombudsman Dr Dijana Možina Zupanc.

The meeting was opened with addresses by senior representatives of European and host institutions: European Ombudsman Teresa Anjinho, Spanish Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo, Acting Ombudsman of Andalusia Jesús Maeztu, and the Mayor of Málaga, Francisco de la Torre. In their speeches, they underlined the importance of cooperation within the European Network of Ombudsmen as a key mechanism for strengthening the protection of human rights and for jointly addressing cross-border and systemic challenges within the European Union.

A key element of the programme was the Ideas Fair, which featured parallel discussions on topics including environmental protection, social security for mobile EU citizens, border asylum procedures, the use of EU funds for deinstitutionalization, and food security. Given that these issues often transcend national borders in terms of their scope, complexity, and impact, participants highlighted that the coordinated involvement of two or more national or regional ombudsman institutions may be particularly appropriate in order to achieve greater effectiveness.

A Deputy Ombudsman Dr Dijana Možina Zupanc presented to participants the idea of addressing cross-border environmental issues from a human rights perspective. She stressed that pollution and its consequences do not stop at national borders, nor do the effects of climate change, which are increasingly interfering with people’s rights to health, safety, and a dignified life. She underlined that as climate-related risks intensify, so too must the responsibility of states to take timely action, ensure transparent public information, and engage in effective cross-border cooperation. Drawing on practical examples from the Adriatic region, she demonstrated how coordinated and parallel approaches can lead to stronger joint recommendations and send a clear message: human rights must not remain unprotected simply because the consequences of environmental and climate crises extend beyond national boundaries.

As part of the expert programme, introductory and concluding lectures were delivered by Prof. Dr Mariolina Eliantonio of Maastricht University and Prof. Dr Joana Mendes of the University of Luxembourg. They highlighted the importance of EU composite administrative procedures and effective legal remedies, as well as the role of EU law within national legal systems, particularly in relation to the protection of fundamental rights.

Participants also heard presentations on projects marking the 30th anniversary of the European Network of Ombudsmen, including the Code of Conduct for Ombudsman Institutions in a Period of Accelerated Innovation and the ENO report to the European Parliament. This was followed by reflections on the Network’s contribution to the development of EU legislation. The ENOPEDIA project was also presented—a digital platform designed to compile ombudsmen’s recommendations, decisions, and inquiries relating to EU law.