The European Ombudsman addressed the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee on developing a European "demos" or citizenry. As an independent office established by the Maastricht Treaty to investigate complaints against EU institutions, the Ombudsman receives around 2000 complaints annually. While freedom of movement is an EU right, only 3% of citizens live in another Member State. The Ombudsman inquires into issues like legislative transparency, lobbying ethics, and citizens' rights to information and complaint under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Developing a European identity and shared rights may help strengthen the European demos, but Member State agreement would be needed.

1. European Ombudsman
European Ombudsman
and the
European ‘demos’?
Constitutional Affairs Committee,
European Parliament
March 20th
2017

2. European Ombudsman
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Ms. Emily O’Reilly
 Former Ombudsman &
Information Commissioner (IE)
 Elected in 2013 by EP
 Independent
 Office created in Maastricht
Treaty (1992)

3. European Ombudsman
EU citizenship - Article 20 TFEU
1. Citizenship of the Union is hereby established...
2. Citizens of the Union shall enjoy the following rights...:
 (a) the right to move...;
 (b) the right to vote...;
 (c) the right to enjoy protection of the diplomatic and consular authorities...;
 (d) the right to petition the European Parliament, to apply to the European Ombudsman....
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4. European Ombudsman
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Our Mission
“…to serve democracy by working with
the institutions of the EU to create a more
effective, accountable, transparent and
ethical administration.”

5. European Ombudsman
~2000 complaints a year from citizens,
MEPs, companies, civil society,
academics...
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6. European Ombudsman
Can we create a ‘demos’?
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7. European Ombudsman
European ‘demos’?
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8. European Ombudsman
European ‘demos’?
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9. European Ombudsman
European ‘demos’?
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10. European Ombudsman
European ‘demos’?
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11. European Ombudsman
European ‘demos’?
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12. European Ombudsman
European ‘demos’?
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13. European Ombudsman
How to develop a European ‘demos’?
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European Elections 2019?

14. European Ombudsman
How to develop a European ‘demos’?
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15. European Ombudsman
How to develop a European ‘demos’?
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16. European Ombudsman
How to develop a European ‘demos’?
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 Focus on freedom of movement but
only 3% of citizens live in another MS!
 Charter of Fundamental Rights as
focus of Europeans’ rights?
 Would the MS agree?!

17. European Ombudsman
How to develop a European ‘demos’?
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 Ombudsman’s work under Charter...
 Right to good administration (Art 41)
 Right to access documents (Art 42)
 Right to complain (Art 43)
 250 Ombudsman inquiries/year:
 EU legislative transparency
 Lobbying ethics/transparency
 Regulation 1049/2001
 Infringement complaints
 Contract/tender problems etc...

18. European Ombudsman
Thank you!
@EUOmbudsman
@aidanosullivan