La difesa civica italiana solleva la questione della mancata istituzione del Difensore civico in Puglia.

Date of article: 24/02/2026

Daily News of: 26/02/2026

Country:  Italy

Author: National coordination of the Italian regional ombudsmen

Article language: it

Il Presidente del Coordinamento nazionale dei Difensori civici delle Regioni e delle Province autonome italiane, Marino Fardelli, ha inviato nei giorni scorsi una lettera ufficiale ai vertici istituzionali della Regione Puglia e del Consiglio regionale, evidenziando la mancata istituzione della figura del Difensore civico regionale.

«Il Difensore civico – dichiara Fardelli – rappresenta un presidio fondamentale di garanzia, imparzialità e prossimità tra cittadini e pubblica amministrazione. La sua assenza in Puglia comporta una evidente carenza di tutela per i cittadini, privi di un organismo indipendente in grado di intervenire preventivamente e conciliativamente nei confronti delle disfunzioni amministrative».

Durante gli ultimi lavori del Coordinamento nazionale tenutosi a Milano nel mese di gennaio 2026, Fardelli ha evidenziato come questa anomalia accomuni attualmente la Puglia alla Sicilia. In quest’ultima regione, grazie all’interlocuzione avviata dal Presidente dell’Assemblea Regionale Siciliana, è stata programmata per il 9 e 10 luglio p.v. una riunione a Palermo alla presenza dei Difensori civici delle Regioni e delle Province autonome italiane, con l’obiettivo di approfondire il percorso normativo e istituzionale necessario alla nascita della difesa civica regionale.

«Ritengo fondamentale – prosegue Fardelli – avviare un percorso analogo con il Consiglio regionale della Puglia, per promuovere un confronto costruttivo volto a colmare questa lacuna istituzionale. L’incontro permetterebbe di analizzare il quadro normativo vigente, condividere buone pratiche già sperimentate in altre Regioni, approfondire l’impatto positivo della figura del Difensore civico in termini di tutela dei diritti e miglioramento della qualità dell’azione amministrativa, e rafforzare il principio di uniformità delle garanzie sul territorio nazionale».

Il Coordinamento nazionale auspica che tale interlocuzione possa svolgersi quanto prima, al fine di generare consapevolezza, avviare un percorso condiviso e assicurare ai cittadini pugliesi lo stesso livello di tutela garantito in altre Regioni italiane.

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Tackling Housing and Tenant Concerns

Date of article: 23/02/2026

Daily News of: 26/02/2026

Country:  United Kingdom - Wales

Author:

Article language: en

A word from the Ombudsman

Everyone deserves to live in a warm, welcoming home. Yet too often, tenants in social housing face issues with disrepair, damp and mould, or anti-social behaviour – issues that can escalate when landlords do not act promptly or communicate clearly. What should be a safe haven instead becomes a source of ongoing stress and harm.

In this special edition of our newsletter, we highlight the housing complaints we have intervened in from urgent repairs and damp and mould to failures in complaints handling. The cases we share show not only the impact on individual tenants, but also the wider learning needed across the sector.

Over the past few months, we have also been engaging with tenants and providers through our own initiative consultation, and we were pleased to meet many at the TPAS Cymru Conference in November. We will continue to use what we learn from this work to shape our future work and drive improvements in social housing.

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La justicia de Aragón sugiere al Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza que aplique de oficio determinadas bonificaciones del impuesto de circulación

Date of article: 19/02/2026

Daily News of: 24/02/2026

Country:  Spain - Aragon

Author:

Article language: es

La institución considera que podría valorarse el uso de la información de la DGT para facilitar el acceso de la ciudadanía a estos beneficios fiscales

La justicia de Aragón, Concepción Gimeno, ha emitido una sugerencia dirigida al Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza para que valore la posibilidad de establecer la aplicación de oficio de determinadas bonificaciones del Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica (IVTM), en función de la información que pueda suministrar la Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT).

La actuación se produce tras la queja de una persona a la que no se le había aplicado la bonificación del 75 % prevista en la ordenanza fiscal municipal para los vehículos híbridos enchufables con distintivo ambiental “cero”, al no haber solicitado expresamente dicho beneficio. En su queja, el interesado ponía de manifiesto que el Ayuntamiento tramita de oficio el impuesto, pero exige una solicitud previa para la aplicación de la bonificación, pese a disponer de los datos necesarios para ello.

En el informe remitido a la institución, el Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza señala que la ordenanza fiscal reguladora del IVTM establece el carácter rogado de esta bonificación, por lo que resulta necesaria la solicitud expresa por parte del contribuyente. No obstante, reconoce que la finalidad de esta medida es fomentar la adquisición de vehículos menos contaminantes y facilitar la tramitación a la ciudadanía.

La justicia de Aragón recuerda que corresponde a las entidades locales regular el procedimiento de concesión de las bonificaciones fiscales a través de sus ordenanzas, pero considera que la propuesta planteada en la queja merece una reflexión, especialmente teniendo en cuenta que otros ayuntamientos, como el de Madrid, ya aplican de oficio bonificaciones similares utilizando la información facilitada por la DGT.

Por ello, la institución sugiere al Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza que valore una posible modificación de la ordenanza fiscal del Impuesto sobre Vehículos de Tracción Mecánica para permitir la aplicación automática de determinadas bonificaciones, lo que podría resultar más coherente con el principio de buena administración y contribuir a evitar cargas administrativas innecesarias a la ciudadanía.

Por su parte, el Ayuntamiento ha informado del traslado de la sugerencia a la Oficina Jurídica de Hacienda.

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Conference “Who Decides? Human Rights Principles Relevant for Older Persons with Dementia”

Date of article: 20/02/2026

Daily News of: 24/02/2026

Country:  Croatia

Author:

Article language: en

Deputy Ombudswoman Tatjana Vlašić participated in an international conference on 10 February 2026, dedicated to older persons living with dementia. The event was particularly significant because it included speakers who are themselves living with this diagnosis.

Jim Mann from Canada and Emily Ong from Singapore spoke about life with dementia. They presented the everyday challenges they face, including discrimination and stigmatization. Both are actively engaged in advocating for the rights of persons with dementia, combating stereotypes and prejudices they are exposed to, and promoting their greater inclusion in society. Through their long-term work in this field, as well as their participation in the conference, they emphasized that persons with dementia not only can be active, but are active and contribute to society.

Deputy Ombudswoman Vlašić presented the work of the Ombudswoman’s institution in protecting the rights of older persons, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. This work is based on handling complaints from affected persons and their family members, visiting long-term care institutions where they are placed, cooperating with civil society organizations, conducting research, and collaborating with relevant authorities.

The difficulties faced by persons living with dementia in Croatia, Deputy Vlašić noted, relate to a serious shortage of specialized care, community services, and support for caregivers. Another problem is the significant variation in the quality of care between institutions, as well as the lack of mechanisms and procedures to prevent inadequate care and abuse of older persons.

To protect the dignity and rights of older persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, she concluded, it is crucial that the social welfare system is strong and effective, and that the community and environment are adapted to older persons and aware of their needs.

As the process of preparing the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons has begun – a process to which the Ombudswoman’s institution, as Croatia’s national human rights institution, has contributed – Deputy Vlašić particularly emphasized the principles that the convention should include in order to adequately address the needs of persons living with dementia. These are: dignity, non-discrimination, and the rights to participation and accessibility, as well as autonomy.

The conference was held online and included participation by Yongjie Yon of the World Health Organization, Dr. Debanjan Banerjee, physician from India, activist Monica Kinyanjui from Kenya, activist DY Suharya from Indonesia, and scientist Natasa Todorovic from Serbia. The event was organized by Age Knowble, an organization whose work aims to empower older persons, amplify their voice, and ensure that the environments in which they live are safe and support a good quality of life.

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(EO) Ombudswoman asks Commission for clarity on guidelines assisting AI Act implementation

Date of article: 24/02/2026

Daily News of: 24/02/2026

Country:  EUROPE

Author:

Article language: en

News - Date Tuesday | 24 February 2026
Case 3162/2025/MIK - Opened on Thursday | 19 February 2026 - Institution concerned European Commission - Country Belgium

  • Complaint submitted 29/10/2025
  • Analysis of the complaint 29/10/2025
  • Inquiry ongoing 19/02/2026
  • Preliminary outcome
  • Inquiry outcome

The European Ombudswoman has asked the European Commission to provide more clarity around the guidelines meant to assist the implementation of the AI Act after a complainant pointed out possible discrepancies between requirements imposed by the Act and the Code of Practice for general-purpose AI models.

The complainant, a Member of the European Parliament, had contacted the Commission concerning the fact that while the AI Act requires providers to maintain up-to-date information about the energy consumption used in general-purpose AI models, including their development, the Code of Practice seems to exempt them from this obligation in certain circumstances.

The complainant turned to the Ombudswoman after the Commission said its role is limited to deciding whether the Code as a whole is adequate or not, rather than, as the complainant had suggested, amending the Code to bring it in line with the AI Act. The complainant also suggested the Commission should approve the Code through an implementing act, which would ensure it is applied uniformly across the EU.

In opening the inquiry, the Ombudswoman asked the Commission to address the complainant’s specific concerns about the energy consumption reporting requirements and clarify its position that it is not empowered to assess individual elements of the code.

The Ombudswoman also asked the Commission for the reasoning it would apply when deciding on whether to approve the Code of Practice by adopting an implementing act, which would give it ‘general validity’ in the EU.

She requested that a first meeting to discuss these issues take place by 20 March 2026.

Background

The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act entered into force in August 2024 and is meant to regulate how AI systems are developed and used.

The Code of Practice is a set of guidelines drawn up by stakeholders, including industry, civil society and academia to help providers of AI systems meet the AI Act’s requirements.

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Link to the Ombudsman Daily News archives from 2002 to 20 October 2011