Activities of Kinga GÖNCZ related to 2013/2051(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Activities of the European Ombudsman in 2012 (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the annual report on the activities of the European Ombudsman 2012 PDF (185 KB) DOC (109 KB)
Amendments (9)
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that the Ombudsman's continuous effort to enhance and improve openness, transparency and accountability in decision-making processes and administrations in the European Union have made a decisive contribution towards creating a Union in which decisions are taken ‘as openly as possible and as closely as possible to the citizen’, as provided in Article 1 of the Treaty on the European Union; calls on the next European Ombudsman to continue his predecessor's good work towards these important goals;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes that transparency-related complaints have always been at the top of the Ombudsman's complaints list; notes also that such complaints are decreasing from the peak year of 2008, in which 36 % of complainants alleged lack of transparency, to 21.5 % in 2012; considers that this is a sign that the EU institutions have made significant efforts to become more transparent; calls on the EU institutions, agencies and bodies to help bring this number down further by cooperating with and implementing the recommendations of the European Ombudsman;
Amendment 27 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Considers that the decrease in the total number of complaints submitted to the Ombudsman in 2012 is further proof of the success of the interactive guide on his website, which is a powerful tool designed to help ensure that fewer citizens complain to the Ombudsman for the wrong reason and to improve the possibilities for advising complainants on where to turn to instead; notices that the trend confirms that an increasing number of people turning to the European Ombudsman are doing so for the right reasons; calls on the Members of the European Parliament and all of the EU's institutions, bodies and agencies to make the guide available through their own websites;
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recognises the important contribution of the European Network of Ombudsmen; notes that 60 % of the complaints the Ombudsman processed in 2012 fell within the competence of a member of the network; recalls that the Committee on Petitions is a full member of the network; notes that in 2012 the Ombudsman transferred 63 complaints to this committee; congratulates the European Ombudsman on successfully coordinating the network; considers that this is a vital function of the Ombudsman's activities and that cooperation in the network should be deepened in order to improve the national administration of EU law; recommends that the network be expanded to include relevant national bodies; considers that the Ombudsman's participation in European and international Ombudsman associations should be maintained and strengthened;
Amendment 46 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Considers that, to strengthen trust in the EU's institutions and increase its credibility, future holders of the post of European Ombudsman must show a similar commitment to independence and impartiality, as laid down in Article 6 of his Statute;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the Ombudsman's participation, alongside Parliament's Committee on Petitions, the European Disability Forum, the Commission and the Fundamental Rights Agency, in the EU- level Article 33(2) Framework, which is charged with protecting, promoting and monitoring the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; calls on the Ombudsman to put special emphasis in his work on the needs of the highly vulnerable social groups, including those with disabilities;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 a (new)
Paragraph 23 a (new)
23a. Welcomes the Ombudsman's efforts to safeguard the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights by the EU's institutions, also through his own- initiative inquiries; foresees another, similar, duty being conferred onto the Ombudsman with the accession of the Union to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as required by Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23 b (new)
Paragraph 23 b (new)
23b. Stresses the importance of the Ombudsman's own-initiative inquiries, which allow him to address issues otherwise not coming to his attention due to the citizen's lack of information or resources to apply him; considers it important to increase visibility of the Office of the European Ombudsman;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the adoption during 2012 of a law establishing an ombudsman institution in Turkey; acknowledges the role of the European Ombudsman's support and advice in this development; is pleased with the fact that all the candidate countries have now established an ombudsman institution at national level; considers that experience shows that the Ombudsman is a highly useful body for the improvement of good administration, the rule of law and defence of human rights and that the Member States that have yet to establish an Ombudsman institution should therefore actively consider doing so; calls on the European Ombudsman to carry on assisting future candidate countries in this process;