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European Ombudsman

EUROPEAN UNION

EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN PRESENTS ANNUAL REPORT 2001

The European Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, presented his 2001 Annual Report to the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament on 8 April, 2002.

2001 was the busiest year so far in Mr. Söderman's seven years as Ombudsman, with 1,874 complaints received. Most complaints - 91% - came from individual citizens. Companies sent 5% of complaints, while 4% came from associations.

Admissible complaints rose by 5% to reach 313 in 2001. The Ombudsman opened 204 inquiries on the basis of these complaints, as well as 4 inquiries on his own initiative. He provided advice as to who to contact to over 900 citizens whose complaints fell outside his mandate. He also responded to 2,335 e-mail requests for information, an increase of 85% compared to 2000.

Lack or refusal of information, avoidable delay, procedural errors and abuse of power were the most common source of complaints. Problems with calls for tender and contracts concluded with the European Union institutions were raised frequently.

MR. SÖDERMAN TO RETIRE IN APRIL 2003

The European Ombudsman, Mr. Jacob Söderman, has announced that he will retire on 1 April, 2003 when he will be 65. By that date, Mr. Söderman will have been European Ombudsman for over 7 years having taken up the position on 1 September, 1995. Previously, he was Parliamentary Ombudsman in Finland from 1989 to 1995. He has worked in the public service for almost forty years, having been Minister of Justice in Finland (1971), a Member of the Finnish Parliament (1972-1982) and Governor of the Province of Uusimaa (1982-1989).

PUBLICATIONS

The European Ombudsman recently published the "European Code of Good Administrative Behaviour" as a booklet in eleven languages. The booklet is available from the Ombudsman's office:

The European Ombudsman
1, avenue du Président Robert Schuman,
BP 403
67001 Strasbourg Cedex
France
E-mail: euro-ombudsman(at)europarl.eu.int

The Code is also available on his website at:
http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/code/en/default.htm

Other recent additions to the European Ombudsman's website include:

• Press release: Commission and Parliament end age discrimination in recruitment
  http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/release/en/2002-05-08.htmhttp://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/release/en/2002-05-08.htm
• Updated section: Regional Ombudsmen and similar bodies in the European Union
  http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/links/en/regomeu1.htm

Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman

FINLAND

NEW PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN ACT IN FINLAND

A Parliamentary Ombudsman Act entered into force on 1 April 2002. The new Act defines in more detail the provisions of the Constitution concerning the duties of the Parliamentary Ombudsman. The provisions, earlier included in the Statute for the Parliamentary Ombudsman adopted by Parliament, are now raised on the level of law.