<p>The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body, tasked with holding the EU’s institutions and agencies to account and promoting good administration. The Ombudsman conducts inquiries about maladministration, following complaints by citizens or on their own initiative.</p>

<p>The Ombudsman is elected by the Parliament for the duration of a parliamentary term from a list of nominees. &nbsp;The new European Ombudsman will take office following an oath-taking ceremony on 27 February 2025 at the EU Court of Justice, for a five-year mandate.</p>

The European Ombudsman

MEPs debate a report evaluating the work of the outgoing EU Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, in 2023. 

O’Reilly’s term ends in February 2025. On Tuesday, Parliament will elect the new European Ombudsman, with six candidates vying for the position. The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body, tasked with holding the EU institutions and agencies to account and promoting good administration.

Debate on the activities of the European Ombudsman with Emily O'Reily

EP Plenary session - Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023

EP Plenary session - Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2022 - In the presence of Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman

EP Plenary session - Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2020

Plenary Session - Regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman s duties

interview with Emily O'REILLY, European Ombudsman, Strasbourg, France , June 1st, 2021

EP Plenary session - Activities of the European Ombudsman - annual report 2019

Handover of the European Ombudsman Annual Report 2017 to EP President

Presentation of the European Ombudsman yearly report - Press conference

Plenary session in Brussels - Week 08  2016  Activities of the European Ombudsman in 2014

TIMMERMANS, Frans (EC) - EC First Vice-President in charge of Better Regulation, Interinstitutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, McGUINNESS, Mairead (EPP, IE) - EP Vice-President

Emily O REILLY, Martin SCHULZ - EP President

Martin SCHULZ - EP President Receiving of the Annual Report 2014 by Emily O Reilly, European Ombudsman

Plenary Session week 43 2012 - Annual report on the activities of the European Ombudsman 2011

On 17 December, the European Parliament elected Teresa Anjinho (Portugal) as the European Ombudsman for a five-year mandate, with the support of 344 MEPs in a secret plenary vote. After two rounds of voting, Teresa Anjinho secured the necessary majority of votes cast. Six candidates participated in the first and second ballots: Teresa Anjinho (Portugal), Emilio De Capitani (Italy), Marino Fardelli (Italy), Julia Laffranque (Estonia), Claudia Mahler (Austria), and Reinier van Zutphen (the Netherlands).

Election of the Ombudsman: extracts from the annual report debate (16.12) and from the vote on the new Ombudsman (17.12)

Parliament elects the European Ombudsman, with six candidates vying for the position. As established in rule 237 of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, in order to be elected a candidate must obtain a majority of votes cast by MEPs. If no candidate is elected after the first two ballots, the two candidates who received the most votes will stand for a third and final ballot. In case of a tie, the oldest candidate shall be appointed. The candidates, listed alphabetically, are: • Teresa Anjinho (Portugal) • Emilio De Capitani (Italy) • Marino Fardelli (Italy) • Julia Laffranque (Estonia) • Claudia Mahler (Austria) • Reinier van Zutphen (The Netherlands) On Tuesday, Parliament backed Teresa Anjinho (Portugal) as the European Ombudsman for a five-year mandate, with the support of 344 MEPs in a secret plenary vote.

Election of the Ombudsman (first and second ballot)

MEPs debate a report evaluating the work of the outgoing EU Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, in 2023. O’Reilly first took office in July 2013 and was re-elected for a second mandate in December 2019. The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body, tasked with holding the EU’s institutions and agencies to account and promoting good administration. The Ombudsman conducts inquiries about maladministration, following complaints by citizens or on their own initiative. During a public hearing organised by the Petitions Committee on 3 December 2024, MEPs questioned the candidates about their priorities if elected. The new European Ombudsman will take office following an oath-taking ceremony on 27 February 2025 at the EU Court of Justice, for a five-year mandate. Closing statements by Raffaele FITTO, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms, Emily O’REILLY, European Ombudsman and by Alex AGIUS SALIBA (S&D, MT), Rapporteur

Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023: closing statements by Raffaele FITTO, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Emily O’REILLY, European Ombudsman and by Alex AGIUS SALIBA (S&D, MT), Rapporteur

MEPs debate a report evaluating the work of the outgoing EU Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, in 2023. O’Reilly first took office in July 2013 and was re-elected for a second mandate in December 2019. The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body, tasked with holding the EU’s institutions and agencies to account and promoting good administration. The Ombudsman conducts inquiries about maladministration, following complaints by citizens or on their own initiative. During a public hearing organised by the Petitions Committee on 3 December 2024, MEPs questioned the candidates about their priorities if elected. Opening statements by Alex AGIUS SALIBA (S&D, MT), Rapporteur, Emily O’REILLY, European Ombudsman and by Raffaele FITTO, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Cohesion and Reforms. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023: opening statements by Alex AGIUS SALIBA (S&D, MT), Rapporteur, Emily O’REILLY, European Ombudsman and by Raffaele FITTO, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission

MEPs debate a report evaluating the work of the outgoing EU Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, in 2023. O’Reilly first took office in July 2013 and was re-elected for a second mandate in December 2019. The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body, tasked with holding the EU’s institutions and agencies to account and promoting good administration. The Ombudsman conducts inquiries about maladministration, following complaints by citizens or on their own initiative. During a public hearing organised by the Petitions Committee on 3 December 2024, MEPs questioned the candidates about their priorities if elected. The new European Ombudsman will take office following an oath-taking ceremony on 27 February 2025 at the EU Court of Justice, for a five-year mandate.

Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023: MEPs Debate

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg (07 - 10 June 2021), MEPs debate the regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman’s duties. Under the new rules, the Ombudsman’s office will enjoy a broad mandate and powers of initiative: the Ombudsman will be able to conduct own-initiative inquiries whenever he/she finds grounds, in particular in case of repeated, systemic or particularly serious instances of maladministration. Statements by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), Rapporteur and by Emily O'REILLY, European Ombudsman.

Regulations and general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman’s duties: statements by Paulo RANGEL (EPP, PT), Rapporteur and Emily O'REILLY, European Ombudsman

Parliament is set to adopt its updated negotiating mandate to reform the rules governing the Ombudsman’s duties: the Ombudsman will be able to launch their own inquiries whenever they consider there to be grounds for one, and will be able to propose solutions to the issues an investigation raises, in particular in case of repeated, systemic or particularly serious instances of maladministration. This infoclip illustrates Emily O'REILLY in several activities ( Elections, work office, photo opportunity, speech in the EP chamber)

Infoclip: The European Ombudsman - Emily O'REILLY

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs debate the Activities of the European Ombudsman - annual report 2019. Opening statement by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D,FR), rapporteur, Emily O’REILLY, European Ombudsman and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment.

Activities of the European Ombudsman - annual report 2019: opening statement by Sylvie GUILLAUME (S&D,FR), rapporteur, Emily O’REILLY, European Ombudsman and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs debate the Activities of the European Ombudsman - annual report 2019. Closing statement by Emily O’REILLY, European Ombudsman and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment.

Activities of the European Ombudsman - annual report 2019: closing statement by Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner and by Emily O’REILLY, European Ombudsman

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs debate the Activities of the European Ombudsman - annual report 2019.

Activities of the European Ombudsman - annual report 2019: MEPs debate

Presentation of the Annual report 2014 to Martin SCHULZ, EP President, by Emily O'REILLY, European Ombudsman, in the EP in Brussels.

Presentation of the Annual report 2014 to Martin SCHULZ, EP President, by Emily O'REILLY, European Ombudsman

Nikiforos DIAMANDOUROS, European Ombudsman, presents his Annual Report 2009, in the European Parliament in Brussels.

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