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REPORT (2023/2120(INI))

On the annual report on the activities of the European Ombudsman in 2022

A-9-2023-0414

Committee on Petitions · Rapporteur: Peter Jahr

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Parliament's resolution approves the European Ombudsman's 2022 annual report and welcomes her work on transparency, ethics and fundamental rights. It calls on the Council to grant timely public access to legislative documents and to apply the highest transparency standards. It urges the Commission to improve handling of access-to-documents requests, publish RRF and CAP information, and strengthen rules on conflicts of interest and 'revolving doors'. It supports Ombudsman inquiries into Frontex, the ECB, the EIB, human rights compliance and the rights of persons with disabilities.

Committee position. The Committee on Petitions approves the Ombudsman's 2022 annual report and proposes a resolution welcoming her work, calling for greater transparency from the Council and Commission, and supporting Ombudsman inquiries into ethics, access to documents and fundamental rights.

Key points

  1. Parliament approves the Ombudsman's 2022 annual report and congratulates Emily O'Reilly on her work promoting accountability and transparency.
  2. It appreciates the Ombudsman's cooperation with Parliament and the Committee on Petitions and notes the Office's efficiency rate improved from 13 months on average in 2013 to less than 6 months in 2022.
  3. It calls on the Council to comply with transparency standards and grant citizens timely access to legislative documents during ongoing procedures.
  4. It welcomes the inquiry into Commission interactions with tobacco representatives and considers an investigation into the independence of the EU Energy Platform Industry Advisory Group paramount.
  5. It endorses the Ombudsman's examination of conflicts of interest for external experts under the European Defence Fund and welcomes the Commission's proposal to amend the Financial Regulation to allow rejection of tenderers with conflicts of interest.
  6. It notes Commission improvements on 'revolving doors' and welcomes the ECB inquiry, supporting stricter cooling-off requirements and a longer lobbying ban for former ECB staff.
  7. It welcomes efforts to improve lobbying transparency and ethics, including a strengthened Code of Conduct for Commissioners and a public record of meetings with lobbyists.
  8. It supports the Ombudsman's requests to the EIB for transparency on environmental impacts and her scrutiny of EU environmental decision-making, including the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
  9. It urges the Commission to improve transparency on Recovery and Resilience Facility funds and to disclose more information on CAP strategic plans and beneficiaries.
  10. It supports the Ombudsman's special report on delays in access-to-documents requests and urges the Commission to respect timelines and dedicate sufficient human resources.
  11. It acknowledges the inquiry into text messages between the Commission President and a pharmaceutical CEO, stresses that work-related messages are 'documents', and calls on the Council to learn from the Digital Markets Act inquiry.
  12. It supports Ombudsman work on human rights, Frontex, Croatian border management, multilingual policies, the UN CRPD, and cooperation through the European Network of Ombudsmen.

Who is affected

  • The Council: called on to grant timely access to legislative documents and apply high transparency standards.
  • The Commission: urged to improve access-to-documents handling, publish RRF and CAP information, and strengthen conflict-of-interest rules.
  • The European Central Bank: supported in applying stricter cooling-off rules and a longer lobbying ban for former staff.
  • Frontex: called on to ensure adequate follow-up to Ombudsman recommendations on fundamental rights and transparency.
  • The European Investment Bank: asked to take transparency steps on environmental impacts and face stepped-up scrutiny.

Figures and deadlines

  • 348 inquiries opened in 2022, of which 344 complaint-based and 4 own-initiative.
  • 330 inquiries closed in 2022 (325 complaint-based and 5 own-initiative).
  • 197 inquiries (57.1%) concerned the Commission.
  • No maladministration found in 37% of cases; solution settled in 46.1%; maladministration found in 4.5%.
  • Top concerns: transparency and accountability (32%), culture of service (20%), respect for fundamental rights (15%).
  • Efficiency rate improved from 13 months on average in 2013 to less than 6 months on average in 2022.
  • 16 569 citizens called on the Ombudsman's services in 2022.
  • 2 238 complaints processed in 2022; 755 fell within mandate and 1 483 outside.

Legal basis: Article 10(3) TEU; Articles 15, 24(3), 228 and 298(1) TFEU.