Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024

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4.3.2026 A10-0015/22

Amendment 22

Marcin Sypniewski, Christine Anderson

on behalf of the ESN Group

Report A10-0015/2026

Bogdan Rzońca

Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024

(2025/2138(INI))

Motion for a resolution

Recital B

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
B. whereas the activities covered by the 2024 annual report were carried out under the mandate of Ms Emily O’Reilly, who served as European Ombudsman from 2013 until the end of her term in early 2025;	B. whereas the activities covered by the 2024 annual report were carried out under the mandate of Ms Emily O’Reilly, who served as European Ombudsman from 2013 until the end of her term in early 2025; whereas from 2013 to 2024 her efforts in the areas of transparency and accountability – including inquiries concerning access to information on COVID-19 vaccine negotiations, recommendations linked to the prevention of maladministration in the EU institutions and findings following the ‘Qatargate’ scandal – were instrumental in highlighting the need to improve administration in the EU institutions;

Or. en

4.3.2026 A10-0015/23

Amendment 23

Marcin Sypniewski

on behalf of the ESN Group

Report A10-0015/2026

Bogdan Rzońca

Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024

(2025/2138(INI))

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
2. Congratulates the new Ombudsman on her appointment and praises her commitment to ensuring that the EU administration upholds a citizen-oriented approach;	2. Congratulates Teresa Anjinho on her success in the competition against five other candidates for the office of Ombudsman; welcomes her intention to maintain a citizen-oriented approach while exercising political neutrality and proportionality in the selection of cases of systemic importance;

Or. en

4.3.2026 A10-0015/24

Amendment 24

Marcin Sypniewski, Christine Anderson

on behalf of the ESN Group

Report A10-0015/2026

Bogdan Rzońca

Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024

(2025/2138(INI))

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
14. Underlines the fact that public access to the documents held by EU institutions is a fundamental right set out in the EU Treaties, and plays a crucial role in ensuring that the EU institutions operate in a transparent manner, thereby reinforcing the legitimacy of, and public trust in, the EU, including through the timely implementation of all of the Ombudsman’s recommendations, thus demonstrating in practice that transparency is a governing rule and a fundamental priority; calls on the Commission to improve the way it handles such requests and to address systemic delays, including through the use of digital tools and simplified procedures; underlines that citizens’ right of public access to information applies to written, physical and electronic documents, and to audio and audiovisual recordings related to the policies, activities and decisions of the EU institutions, and recalls that work-related text messages and instant messages are considered ‘documents’ under Regulation (EC) No 1049/20014 ;	14. Underlines the fact that public access to the documents held by EU institutions is a fundamental right set out in the EU Treaties, and plays a crucial role in ensuring that the EU institutions operate in a transparent manner, thereby reinforcing the legitimacy of, and public trust in, the EU, including through the timely implementation of all of the Ombudsman’s recommendations, thus demonstrating in practice that transparency is a governing rule and a fundamental priority; calls on the Commission to improve the way it handles such requests and to address systemic delays, including through the use of digital tools and simplified procedures; underlines that citizens’ right of public access to information applies to written, physical and electronic documents, and to audio and audiovisual recordings related to the policies, activities and decisions of the EU institutions, and recalls that work-related text messages and instant messages are considered ‘documents’ under Regulation (EC) No 1049/20014; stresses that genuine transparency must include full and timely access to documents of major public interest, including those relating to large-scale public procurement procedures and negotiations conducted during crisis situations; considers that delays or refusals in granting access to such documents seriously undermine public trust in the EU’s institutions and calls on the Ombudsman to continue prioritising inquiries in this regard;
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4 Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/1049/oj).	4 Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2001/1049/oj).

Or. en

4.3.2026 A10-0015/25

Amendment 25

Marcin Sypniewski

on behalf of the ESN Group

Report A10-0015/2026

Bogdan Rzońca

Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2024

(2025/2138(INI))

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	15a. Warns against the phenomenon of ‘simulated transparency’, where institutions publish excessive quantities of secondary or technical material while delaying or restricting access to documents of primary relevance for democratic scrutiny, such as arrangements with governments or lobbyists on matters affecting the everyday lives of citizens; stresses that transparency must be substantive and effective, rather than merely formal or procedural;

Or. en