BETA


2022/0903(NLE) Consultation on European Ombudsman Implementing Provisions
Next event: Vote in plenary scheduled 2023/02/15

Progress: Awaiting Parliament's vote

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead AFCO RANGEL Paulo (icon: EPP EPP) BENIFEI Brando (icon: S&D S&D), PAGAZAURTUNDÚA Maite (icon: Renew Renew), FREUND Daniel (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), SCHOLZ Helmut (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion PETI
Lead committee dossier:

Events

2023/02/15
   Vote in plenary scheduled
2023/01/26
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Details

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted a report by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT) on the draft implementing provisions for the Statute of the European Ombudsman.

As a reminder, Article 18 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/1163 of the European Parliament laying down the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman’s duties (Statute of the European Ombudsman) and repealing Decision 94/262/ECSC, EC, Euratom, stipulates that the Ombudsman shall adopt the implementing provisions for this Regulation, after consultation of the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission. This Article also stipulates that those implementing rules shall, as a minimum, include provisions on (a) procedural rights of the complainant and the Union institution, body, office or agency concerned; (b) receipt, processing and closure of complaints; (c) own-initiative inquiries; and (d) follow-up inquiries.

The implementing provisions currently in force date back to 2016 and are based on the previous Statute of the European Ombudsman. Those provisions were adopted by the European Ombudsman alone, without consultation of the three institutions.

The draft implementing provisions submitted to the three institutions are based on the implementing provisions currently in force, with some modifications to adapt them to the provisions of the new Statute.

This report includes amendments to better align a number of provisions to the provisions of the Statute as well as ensuring transparency.

Treatment of complaints

Members proposed deleting the provision stating that the Ombudsman shall treat a petition falling within the Ombudsman's duties, which is transferred by the European Parliament with the consent of the petitioner, as a complaint.

It is proposed to add some references to ensure transparency. The report states that the Ombudsman:

- may take steps to ensure that a complaint is dealt with as a matter of priority, taking into account the strategic work topics defined by the Ombudsman in the annual report or the particular nature of a complaint, including in areas such as whistleblowing and harassment;

- deals with abusive communications and complaints that amount to an abuse of process in accordance with guidelines adopted for that purpose. Those guidelines shall be published on the website of the Ombudsman.

Own-initiative inquiries and follow-up inquiries

The report states that the Ombudsman may also contact the institutions in writing, in order to raise awareness, share observations or gather information on administrative practices. Within the limits of the Ombudsman’s duties, the Ombudsman may decide to conduct own-initiative inquiries also following such contacts with the institutions.

Protection of complainants

In cases where the Ombudsman is asked to verify whether the measures adopted by the competent authority of the Union institution, body, office or agency concerned ensure the protection of alleged victims of harassment and restore a healthy and safe working environment, respecting the dignity of the persons concerned while an administrative inquiry is ongoing, the Ombudsman may consult external experts in the field for their assistance in the verification and for possible recommendations.

Documents
2023/01/25
   EP - Vote in committee
2022/12/02
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2022/11/07
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2022/10/27
   EC - For information
Documents
2022/10/20
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2022/10/17
   EP - RANGEL Paulo (EPP) appointed as rapporteur in AFCO
2022/07/05
   MED - Legislative proposal
Documents
2022/07/04
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Documents

Documents

  • Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A9-0010/2023
  • Amendments tabled in committee: PE738.607
  • Committee draft report: PE737.457
  • For information: C(2022)7583
  • Legislative proposal: N9-0065/2022
  • Legislative proposal published: N9-0065/2022
  • Legislative proposal: N9-0065/2022
  • For information: C(2022)7583
  • Committee draft report: PE737.457
  • Amendments tabled in committee: PE738.607
AmendmentsDossier
12 2022/0903(NLE)
2022/12/02 AFCO 12 amendments...
source: 738.607

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

events/0/date
Old
2022-07-04T00:00:00
New
2022-07-05T00:00:00
forecasts/0
date
2023-02-15T00:00:00
title
Vote in plenary scheduled
forecasts/0
date
2023-02-13T00:00:00
title
Indicative plenary sitting date
docs/4
date
2023-01-26T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2023-0010_EN.html title: A9-0010/2023
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/3/summary
  • The Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted a report by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT) on the draft implementing provisions for the Statute of the European Ombudsman.
  • As a reminder, Article 18 of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/1163 of the European Parliament laying down the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman’s duties (Statute of the European Ombudsman) and repealing Decision 94/262/ECSC, EC, Euratom, stipulates that the Ombudsman shall adopt the implementing provisions for this Regulation, after consultation of the European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission. This Article also stipulates that those implementing rules shall, as a minimum, include provisions on (a) procedural rights of the complainant and the Union institution, body, office or agency concerned; (b) receipt, processing and closure of complaints; (c) own-initiative inquiries; and (d) follow-up inquiries.
  • The implementing provisions currently in force date back to 2016 and are based on the previous Statute of the European Ombudsman. Those provisions were adopted by the European Ombudsman alone, without consultation of the three institutions.
  • The draft implementing provisions submitted to the three institutions are based on the implementing provisions currently in force, with some modifications to adapt them to the provisions of the new Statute.
  • This report includes amendments to better align a number of provisions to the provisions of the Statute as well as ensuring transparency.
  • Treatment of complaints
  • Members proposed deleting the provision stating that the Ombudsman shall treat a petition falling within the Ombudsman's duties, which is transferred by the European Parliament with the consent of the petitioner, as a complaint.
  • It is proposed to add some references to ensure transparency. The report states that the Ombudsman:
  • - may take steps to ensure that a complaint is dealt with as a matter of priority, taking into account the strategic work topics defined by the Ombudsman in the annual report or the particular nature of a complaint, including in areas such as whistleblowing and harassment;
  • - deals with abusive communications and complaints that amount to an abuse of process in accordance with guidelines adopted for that purpose. Those guidelines shall be published on the website of the Ombudsman.
  • Own-initiative inquiries and follow-up inquiries
  • The report states that the Ombudsman may also contact the institutions in writing, in order to raise awareness, share observations or gather information on administrative practices. Within the limits of the Ombudsman’s duties, the Ombudsman may decide to conduct own-initiative inquiries also following such contacts with the institutions.
  • Protection of complainants
  • In cases where the Ombudsman is asked to verify whether the measures adopted by the competent authority of the Union institution, body, office or agency concerned ensure the protection of alleged victims of harassment and restore a healthy and safe working environment, respecting the dignity of the persons concerned while an administrative inquiry is ongoing, the Ombudsman may consult external experts in the field for their assistance in the verification and for possible recommendations.
docs/4
date
2023-01-26T00:00:00
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2023-0010_EN.html title: A9-0010/2023
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/3/docs
  • url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-9-2023-0010_EN.html title: A9-0010/2023
events/3
date
2023-01-26T00:00:00
type
Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Awaiting committee decision
New
Awaiting Parliament's vote
events/2
date
2023-01-25T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee
body
EP
procedure/Other legal basis
Rules of Procedure EP 159
events/0/date
Old
2022-07-05T00:00:00
New
2022-07-04T00:00:00
forecasts
  • date: 2023-02-13T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date
events/0/date
Old
2022-07-04T00:00:00
New
2022-07-05T00:00:00
forecasts
  • date: 2023-02-13T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date
docs/3/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFCO-AM-738607_EN.html
docs/3
date
2022-12-02T00:00:00
docs
title: PE738.607
type
Amendments tabled in committee
body
EP
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
committee_full
Petitions
committee
PETI
associated
False
opinion
False
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
committee_full
Petitions
committee
PETI
associated
False
rapporteur
name: MONTSERRAT Dolors date: 2022-10-25T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
docs/1/docs/0/url
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/regdel/web/delegatedActsLinks/C(2022)7583
committees/0/shadows
  • name: BENIFEI Brando group: Group of Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats abbr: S&D
  • name: PAGAZAURTUNDÚA Maite group: Renew Europe group abbr: Renew
  • name: FREUND Daniel group: Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
  • name: SCHOLZ Helmut group: The Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL abbr: GUE/NGL
docs/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AFCO-PR-737457_EN.html
forecasts
  • date: 2023-02-13T00:00:00 title: Indicative plenary sitting date
docs/2
date
2022-11-07T00:00:00
docs
title: PE737.457
type
Committee draft report
body
EP
docs/1
date
2022-10-27T00:00:00
docs
title: C(2022)7583
type
For information
body
EC
committees/1/rapporteur
  • name: MONTSERRAT Dolors date: 2022-10-25T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP
events/1
date
2022-10-20T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament
body
EP
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
  • AFCO/9/10274
procedure/stage_reached
Old
Preparatory phase in Parliament
New
Awaiting committee decision
committees/0/rapporteur
  • name: RANGEL Paulo date: 2022-10-17T00:00:00 group: Group of European People's Party abbr: EPP