This week, Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise and her advisers visited the Astangu Vocational Rehabilitation Centre. The visit began with the observation of classes in the Edgar language immersion and vocational selection course and the assistant cook specialty, where students at the centre taught the Chancellor’s advisers how to prepare a bread dessert.

The Edgar language immersion vocational selection course is designed for young people whose native language is not Estonian and who wish to acquire Estonian at a suitable level in order to continue their studies in other curricula at the Astangu Centre or another vocational education institution. The Edgar group currently has nine students, and two graduates from last spring are now studying to become assistant cooks. The course was launched in 2021 as a pilot project to increase opportunities for young people with special educational needs and a different home language to continue their education after basic school. By the end of the year, an analysis of the Edgar language learning model will be completed in cooperation with Tallinn University, and a digital toolkit for teachers will be created to help spread good practices to other vocational schools.

The Chancellor of Justice and the Centre’s director, Kert Valdaru, discussed in detail the vocational selection courses, which will become preparatory studies from the next academic year. It is important that young people in need of support continue to have the opportunity to pursue preparatory studies after basic school, as they have done in vocational selection courses so far. This is crucial for those who need more time to develop social and everyday life skills and to clarify their interests and abilities when choosing a profession.

The discussion also touched on the limited opportunities of students who have completed a simplified curriculum to continue in vocational education, on the actual accessibility of schools, and on the broader meaning of inclusive education. These issues are essential for society as a whole – they reflect how we value learning and independence, even when the path to them may differ from the usual.

Following press reports on the decision of the Prosecutor to press charges against four additional Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG) officers in relation to the Adriana fishing vessel shipwreck off the coast of Pylos on 14/6/2023, the Greek Ombudsman, Andreas Pottakis issued the following statement: “Nine months have passed since the National Mechanism for the Investigation of Arbitrary Incidents by law enforcement officers completed its ex officio investigation and forwarded it to the competent bodies i.e. the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy and, in accordance with the law, the competent Public Prosecutor; and while criminal charges for several felonies have been brought against HCG officers, the competent Ministry insists on abstaining from any disciplinary action, disregarding what the law dictates. This delay, in my opinion, does very little to boost the morale of HCG members, men and women, who conscientiously fulfill their duties, honoring their oath. It clearly pays no tribute to the reputation of the Hellenic Coastguard internationally.”

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European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has found maladministration in the European Commission’s refusal to analyse a 2023 risk assessment report drawn up by social media company X for possible public disclosure. Under the EU’s Digital Service Act, large social media companies such as X must provide annual reports to the Commission on their compliance with the Act’s provisions.

When a journalist requested access to X’s report, the Commission refused, arguing that it could be generally presumed that disclosure could undermine the company’s commercial interests as well as an ongoing investigation into its compliance with the Digital Services Act. The Commission later added that its use of a general presumption of non-disclosure was also justified by the need to protect an independent audit into the same issue.

This reliance on a general presumption means that the Commission had not individually assessed the report for possible disclosure.

The Ombudswoman found that it was unreasonable for the Commission to apply a general presumption of non-disclosure and that the circumstances in which the EU courts permitted this are very different from the rules that apply to risk assessment reports. She further found that the then ongoing audit was also not enough to justify a general presumption of non-disclosure, even if X was obliged to publish the report within three months of the audit’s completion.

While X has now made the report public with redactions, the Ombudswoman nevertheless recommended that the Commission conduct an individual assessment of the document for disclosure. This assessment should aim at granting the journalist the widest access possible, including possibly to the redactions made by the company.

The Ombudswoman further stressed that if the Commission concludes that access cannot be granted to certain parts of the report, it must thoroughly explain why.

Transport for London has been criticised for the way it has run two significant vehicle scrappage schemes.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found TfL made changes to the schemes without following due process or informing the public. This meant people have spent time applying, unaware their vehicles were no longer eligible.

The schemes were set up in 2023 allowing people in the city to receive a grant to either scrap or retrofit non-compliant vehicles ready for the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

However, TfL failed to tell people about a change it introduced to its scheme for vans and minibuses which meant vehicles with outstanding tickets (PCNs) would not be considered unless the charges were paid or resolved.

In its scheme for cars and motorcycles, the terms were amended without notice so that it would not accept applications from vehicles previously used as licensed taxis in the year before the scheme started.

Mrs Amerdeep Clarke, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, said:

“We recognise why Transport for London decided to update its vehicle scrappage schemes. But failing to clearly communicate these changes to potential applicants does not reflect the core principles of fair, transparent and honest public service.

“We welcome Transport for London’s commitment to publishing any future updates to these, and similar schemes, on its website, ensuring residents are properly informed if and when any changes will take effect.”

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman remedies injustice and shares learning from investigations to help improve public, and adult social care, services. It also has the power to make recommendations to improve processes for the wider public. In this case TfL has agreed to ensure there is a formal documented process for determining and approving any changes to the terms and conditions of this and any similar future schemes. It has also agreed to ensure it promptly publishes any changes to such schemes on its website.