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Belgium, Federal Ombudsmen

Annual report

On Wednesday, October 25, 2000, the federal ombudsmen handed their annual report 1999/1 to the Chairman of the House of Representatives in the presence of the Members of the Petitions Committee and of the press. This annual report covers the period August 1 to December 31, 1999. In future, the federal ombudsmen intend to submit an annual report which covers a full calendar year. The law has still to be amended to reflect this change. The annual reports could then be discussed during spring.

In his introduction, the President of the House of Representatives stressed the danger of &#8220;administrative alienation&#8221; between the citizens and the representatives. The existence of ombudsmen should not prevent the representatives from listening to the population. He also stressed the danger of "proliferation" of ombudsmen and asked the House to play a coordinating role.

The President of the Petitions Committee, Mr V. Decroly, made an evaluation. He was somewhat disappointed by the poor response received from the standing committees of the House to which the Petitions Committee submits recommendations. Thus a rather large number of recommendations have not been treated yet. Consequently, Mr. Decroly announced that the Petitions Committee would make a selection of the pending recommendations which require a priority treatment.

For their part, the federal ombudsmen stressed the fact that their office is an auxiliary body of the House. The results of the media campaign have not been included in the present annual report.

During the reported 5-month period, 1820 files were processed. Among those, 439 cases were closed; 189 cases were referred to another entity and 158 cases were considered inadmissible, the remaining cases were in different stages of treatment.

Maladministration is largely due to lack of respect of reasonable deadlines.

35.3% of the files in treatment relate to cases of the administration of Finance (not including pensions offices) and 23.9% of the files relate to cases from the Immigration Office and legalisations and from the General Commissioner for Refugees and Stateless Persons.

The Office of the federal ombudsmen of Belgium emphasizes that federal government has met many recommendations. Also official recommendations addressed to the Civil Service are being responded positively. Approximately ten recommendations are being discussed by the Petitions Committee or have resulted in a legislative initiative. Twelve recommendations have not been dealt with yet. They relate to recommendations which have to be treated by standing committees. The follow-up of such recommendations by the standing committees could be improved.

The annual report covering the whole calendar year 2000 will be presented to the House of Representatives before March 31, 2001.

Belgium, Federal Ombudsmen

Annual report

On Wednesday, October 25, 2000, the federal ombudsmen handed their annual report 1999/1 to the Chairman of the House of Representatives in the presence of the Members of the Petitions Committee and of the press. This annual report covers the period August 1 to December 31, 1999. In future, the federal ombudsmen intend to submit an annual report which covers a full calendar year. The law has still to be amended to reflect this change. The annual reports could then be discussed during spring.

In his introduction, the President of the House of Representatives stressed the danger of “administrative alienation” between the citizens and the representatives. The existence of ombudsmen should not prevent the representatives from listening to the population. He also stressed the danger of "proliferation" of ombudsmen and asked the House to play a coordinating role.

The President of the Petitions Committee, Mr V. Decroly, made an evaluation. He was somewhat disappointed by the poor response received from the standing committees of the House to which the Petitions Committee submits recommendations. Thus a rather large number of recommendations have not been treated yet. Consequently, Mr. Decroly announced that the Petitions Committee would make a selection of the pending recommendations which require a priority treatment.

For their part, the federal ombudsmen stressed the fact that their office is an auxiliary body of the House. The results of the media campaign have not been included in the present annual report.

During the reported 5-month period, 1820 files were processed. Among those, 439 cases were closed; 189 cases were referred to another entity and 158 cases were considered inadmissible, the remaining cases were in different stages of treatment.

Maladministration is largely due to lack of respect of reasonable deadlines.

35.3% of the files in treatment relate to cases of the administration of Finance (not including pensions offices) and 23.9% of the files relate to cases from the Immigration Office and legalisations and from the General Commissioner for Refugees and Stateless Persons.

The Office of the federal ombudsmen of Belgium emphasizes that federal government has met many recommendations. Also official recommendations addressed to the Civil Service are being responded positively. Approximately ten recommendations are being discussed by the Petitions Committee or have resulted in a legislative initiative. Twelve recommendations have not been dealt with yet. They relate to recommendations which have to be treated by standing committees. The follow-up of such recommendations by the standing committees could be improved.

The annual report covering the whole calendar year 2000 will be presented to the House of Representatives before March 31, 2001.