News - Date Tuesday | 03 March 2026
Case 352/2026/PVV - Opened on Monday | 02 March 2026 - Institution concerned European Commission - Country Spain

• Complaint submitted 06/02/2026

• Analysis of the complaint 06/02/2026

• Inquiry ongoing 02/03/2026

• Preliminary outcome

• Inquiry outcome

European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has asked the European Commission to reply to a meeting request from the organisers of the Fur Free Europe European citizens’ initiative. She has also asked the Commission to use its reply to address concerns raised by the organisers when it comes to balanced stakeholder involvement and evidence-based decision-making.

Fur Free Europe filed a complaint with the European Ombudsman after the Commission failed to reply to their meeting request of 12 December 2025. In addition to asking to meet with Commission representatives, the organisers are concerned that the Commission is failing to ensure balanced stakeholder involvement in the decisive phase of their Initiative and is not taking into consideration key evidence in its decision making, including a scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The Ombudsman noted that the organisers may have been able to raise these issues directly with the Commission if it had replied to their meeting request.

She has asked the Commission to reply to the organisers before it plans to adopt its final position on their European Citizens’ Initiative this March.

Les faits

Monsieur J.M. et Madame A.A. déposent une demande de permis pour transformer une grange en habitation sur un terrain situé en zone agricole. Le Collège communal, pourtant favorable au projet, est contraint de le refuser sur avis conforme du Fonctionnaire délégué. Les motifs invoqués sont multiples : Monsieur J.M. ne serait pas agriculteur, la grange ne pourrait être considérée comme préexistante au plan de secteur, et le projet constituerait une nouvelle construction plutôt qu'une rénovation.

Le dossier est porté en recours devant le Gouvernement wallon. La Commission d'Avis sur Recours émet un avis favorable conditionnel. Mais l'Arrêté du Ministre maintient le refus — en s'appuyant notamment sur l'affirmation que Monsieur J.M. n'est pas agriculteur. Or, c'est faux : il dispose d'un numéro d'agriculteur officiel, exerce cette activité à titre principal, paie des cotisations et perçoit des primes en cette qualité.

L'intervention du Médiateur

Face aux erreurs et contradictions qui émaillent le dossier, le Médiateur interpelle le Ministre et propose la tenue d'une réunion de médiation. Lors de cette réunion, l'architecte des réclamants apporte les preuves manquantes : la qualité d'agriculteur de Monsieur J.M., l'existence légale de la grange — attestée par un permis d'urbanisme délivré en 1965 — et des plans démontrant que le projet ne dépasse que légèrement l'emprise au sol actuelle, et non largement comme il avait été retenu.

Ces éléments fondamentaux, absents ou mal interprétés dans la procédure initiale, sont enfin mis en lumière dans le cadre de la médiation.

L'issue de la médiation

Sur la base des échanges tenus en médiation, le Médiateur adresse une recommandation au Ministre, lui demandant de réexaminer sa décision. Un peu plus d'un mois plus tard, le Ministre retire son premier arrêté et octroie le permis.

Dans sa décision, il reconnaît que la décision de refus était affectée d'une irrégularité et inadéquatement motivée, que Monsieur J.M. a bien la qualité d'agriculteur, que la grange avait une existence légale, et que les éléments apportés en médiation permettent de conclure qu'il ne s'agit pas d'une nouvelle construction. Le projet, qui s'inscrit en cohérence avec le cadre bâti environnant, permettra en outre d'éliminer un chancre à l'entrée de la propriété.

À retenir

• Une erreur factuelle dans un avis administratif peut avoir des conséquences lourdes pour un citoyen — et bloquer un dossier pendant des années.
• La médiation permet de réunir toutes les parties, de corriger les erreurs matérielles et de rouvrir un dialogue que la procédure formelle avait fermé.
• Le Médiateur peut recommander le retrait d'un acte irrégulier : c'est un levier méconnu, mais efficace.
• Un permis refusé n'est pas toujours un permis définitivement perdu.

"Any change in the rules for admission to municipal nurseries and kindergartens must above all guarantee equality, transparency, and protection of the best interests of the child. It is unacceptable for children who are already part of the early care system and have gone through the adaptation process to be placed at a disadvantage compared to their peers. Decisions should be balanced, predictable, and tailored to the real needs of families." This was written by Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva to the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, and the Chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council, Tsvetomir Petrov.

23 February 2026

"Any change in the rules for admission to municipal nurseries and kindergartens must above all guarantee equality, transparency, and protection of the best interests of the child. It is unacceptable for children who are already part of the early care system and have gone through the adaptation process to be placed at a disadvantage compared to their peers. Decisions should be balanced, predictable, and tailored to the real needs of families." This was written by Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva to the Mayor of Sofia, Vasil Terziev, and the Chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council, Tsvetomir Petrov.

The reason for this is dozens of complaints from parents about the proposed amendments to the Ordinance on the Admission of Children to Municipal Nurseries and Kindergartens.

The Ombudsman expresses concern about the repeal of the additional point under General Criterion 5 for children who have attended a municipal stand-alone nursery or a private nursery registered with the Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate.

Delcheva points out that the removal of this point could put these children at a disadvantage compared to their peers who attend nursery groups at kindergartens, which automatically continue into the first group.

She recalls that the Ombudsman Institution has repeatedly made recommendations to the Sofia Municipality and district mayors to overcome the systemic shortage of places in childcare facilities through the construction of new nurseries and kindergartens, as well as by zoning the existing ones so that children have access to the facility closest to their place of residence.

"I should note that I am familiar with the problems that parents have in settlements such as Vladaya, Chelopechene, Bistritsa, Kazichene, Krivina, Lozen, and German, whose children are not accepted into municipal nurseries and kindergartens, even though they live in the locality and often even close to the kindergarten itself, due to a shortage of places or a lack of nursery groups. The complaints also mention children accepted from other neighbourhoods where there are kindergartens, but their parents do not prefer them," the Ombudsman points out.

Velislava Delcheva adds that this forces parents to take their children kilometers away from their place of residence or to look for private kindergartens and nurseries, which places an additional financial burden on their families.

She draws attention to the need to clarify the texts relating to the removal of children from preparatory groups after 15 days of absence, specifying whether medical documents or absences for other valid reasons are included.

The Ombudsman supports equating the weight of the permanent and current address of parents and children, as well as the introduction of a new General Criterion 2a, providing an additional point for children applying to childcare facilities in the municipality where they live at their permanent or current address, including children from municipalities in the same district where there is no functioning kindergarten. According to her, this is an important step towards fair zoning and equal access to childcare facilities for all children, including those who live in rented accommodation or outside the preferred neighbourhoods.

In conclusion, the Ombudsman expresses confidence that the amendments to the Ordinance will ensure equality, transparency, and equal access to services and education for all children in the territory of the Sofia Municipality.