9 Amendments of Silvana KOCH-MEHRIN related to 2009/2088(INI)
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Approves the annual report for the year 2008 presented by the European Ombudsman and the form in which it is presentedits structure, combining a summary of the year’s activities with an overview of the complaints and inquiries and a thematic analysis of the Ombudsman’s decisions and, covering the most significant findings of law and fact contained in the Ombudsman's decisions in 2008, as well as the problems raised at various stages of the procedure;
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Considers, that the newclearer presentation of the statistical data, including the new method of calculating and the new layout, has made the report more comprehensible, accessible and user-friendly;
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on the Ombudsman to pursue his efforts in raising awareness of his work and to promote his activities effectively, and transparently and flexibly so that, in the eyes of citizens, he represents the custodian of sound administration and a genuine culture of providing services in EU institutions;
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. ConsidersNotes the definition of 'maladministration' provided in the Ombudsman´s Annual Report of 1997, which states that maladministration occurs when a public body fails to act in accordance with a rule or principle which is binding upon it or if an institution fails to respect the principles of good administration or violates fundamental rights; considers, however, that the term 'maladministration' should be broadly interpreted so as to include not only unlawful administrative acts or infringements of binding legal rules or principles but also, for example, cases where the administrative authorities have been sloppy, negligent in their dutyies to their citizens or lacking in transparency or have infringed other principles of good administration;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Welcomes the revision of the Ombudsman's Statute, in particular the Ombudsman's strengthened powers of investigation which will help to ensure that citizens can have full confidence in his ability to conduct a thorough investigation of their complaints without restrictions;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need to contribute to the public understanding of the duties of the Ombudsman by providing citizens, companies, NGOs and other entities with information, and considers that easily understood and high-quality information may help to reduce the number of complaints which do not fall within the Ombudsman's terms of reference; at the same time, calls on the Ombudsman to forward immediately those complaints which do not fall within his terms of reference by way of the most appropriate network at national and local level;
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Stresses the need to contribute to the public understanding of the duties of the Ombudsman by providing citizens, companies, NGOs and other entities with information, and considers that easily understood, accurate and high-quality information may help to reduce the number of complaints which do not fall within the Ombudsman's terms of referencmandate; at the same time, calls on the Ombudsman to forward immediatetransfer directly those complaints which do not fall within his terms of reference by way of the most appropriate network at national and local levelmandate to another competent body at national, regional or local level by way of the most appropriate network, such as the European Network of Ombudsmen; welcomes in this regard the new interactive guide for complainants which aims to direct them to the body which is best placed to deal with their complaints or information requests;
Amendment 13 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Recognises the useful contribution made by the European Network of Ombudsmen, of which the Committee on Petitions is a full member, in line with the principle of subsidiarity, in securing extra- judicial remedies; welcomes the collaboration between the European Ombudsman and Ombudsmen and similar bodies at national, regional and local levels in the Member States, and urges further strengthening of the exchange of best practice, thereby allowing for the harmonisation of best practices between Member States; stresses that this cooperation is vital for exchanging information about EU law, tracking important developments in the world of Ombudsmen, and sharing best practice;
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the measuresenhanced information campaign promoted by the communications strategy adopted by the Ombudsman, which leads to greater awareness of citizens' rights and Community competences, as well as a greater understanding of the Ombudsman's sphere of competence; urges him, however, in the light of the still substantial number of complaints falling outside his terms of referencmandate, to intensify his efforts to provide more comprehensive and accurate information about those terms of referenchis mandate on a more regular basis;