News - Date Wednesday | 30 April 2025
Case 2252/2022/OAM - Opened on Wednesday | 22 February 2023 - Decision on Monday | 20 November 2023 - Institution concerned European Investment Bank ( Maladministration found ) - Country Czechia

European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has welcomed a decision by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to start proactively publishing its environmental and social assessments for projects located outside the EU that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment. From now on, the EIB will publish this information ahead of the adoption of financing decisions by its Board of Directors.

The earlier publication of this data should allow the public to more meaningfully participate in the assessment of the environmental and social aspects of projects the EIB is considering funding. It will also better align the EIB’s practices with those of other multilateral development banks.

The EIB’s decision follows an Ombudsman inquiry concerning its refusal to give public access to the environmental and social assessment of a project in Nairobi, Kenya as well as its general practice of not publishing such information until after financing decisions have been taken.

25.03.2025

Nach gut einem Jahr im Amt hat der Bürgerbeauftragte des Landes Dr. Christian Frenzel heute seinen Jahresbericht 2024 an die Landtagspräsidentin Birgit Hesse übergeben. Im Berichtsjahr erreichten 1.728 Petitionen das Büro des Bürgerbeauftragten, fast genauso viele wie im Vorjahr. In 46 Bürgersprechstunden im ganzen Land konnten die Bürgerinnen und Bürger ihre Anliegen vortragen. Inhaltlicher Schwerpunkt waren wieder Fragen in sozialen Angelegenheiten wie Bürgergeld und Grundsicherung für Arbeitsuchende. Kommunale Angelegenheiten und Petitionen aus dem Polizei- und Ordnungsrecht haben etwas an Bedeutung gewonnen. 

Dazu sagte Christian Frenzel heute in Schwerin:    

"Meine Überzeugung ist, dass ein enger Kontakt zu den Bürgerinnen und Bürgern die Grundvoraussetzung ist, um mehr Verständnis für die Entscheidungen von Politik und Verwaltung zu erreichen. Der Staat muss besser erklären. Dann sind die Menschen auch zu notwendigen Veränderungen bereit. Und durch mehr Vertrauen in die Bürgerinnen und Bürger kann der Staat auch seine Abläufe vereinfachen und auf die eine oder andere Regelung verzichten."

Damit würde auch der gesellschaftliche Zusammenhalt gestärkt. Die Sorgen der Bürgerinnen und Bürger müsse man ernst nehmen und ihnen nachgehen. Zu unterscheiden seien immer die Lebensumstände vor Ort und die große Sorge um die Zukunft. 

„Bei aller Kritik im Einzelnen müssen wir immer auch darauf schauen, was unsere Gesellschaft ausmacht. Wir müssen denjenigen den Rücken stärken, die Verantwortung übernehmen und sich für das Gemeinwohl einsetzen: der ehrenamtlichen Bürgermeisterin ebenso wie den Vorständen der zahlreichen Vereine und Träger in den Bereichen Sport, Kultur, Heimat, Sozialberatung, Kleingärten, aber auch bei der Freiwilligen Feuerwehr oder dem Rettungsdienst. Unsere Demokratie lebt vom gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt“, so der Bürgerbeauftragte weiter.

Der Bericht des Bürgerbeauftragten wird nun zunächst in den Ausschüssen des Landtages beraten. Der vollständige Bericht ist demnächst auf der Homepage des Bürgerbeauftragten verfügbar.

The Commissioner for Education within the Office of the Parliamentary Ombudsman has in the past days received several communications from parents of LSE supported children in state secondary schools who will not be sitting for their MATSEC examinations. These parents have expressed concern that their year-11 children have been told to remain at home between today the 28th of April and the 29th of June. 

From preliminary information obtained it would appear that although the Education Authorities are providing a special course for these students for that period, very few parents have in fact applied to have these children attend this course, possibly indicating lack of proper consultation with these parents as to the needs of the children and the parents’ expectations.

Similar concern has been expressed by the parents of years 7 to 10 Core Curriculum Programme (CCP) students over the possibility of their children also being told to remain at home at some stage in the future.

The situation appears to be exacerbated by current directives issued by the Union of Professional Educators (UPE) restricting the temporary re-assignment/redeployment of union members from year-11 children taking MATSEC exams to support children in lower years who are without an LSE.

The Commissioner for Education reminds all the education-providing stakeholders – principally the Education Authorities and all the unions concerned – that children with disabilities, like other children, have a fundamental right to schooling and to the best education possible compatible with their situation, and that they should not be subjected to improper discrimination because of their disability. The Commissioner also enjoins the stakeholders to bear constantly in mind the already heavy burden, both emotional and financial, being carried by the parents of these children, and hopes that nothing will be done to increase that burden.

During March, our SWF team

• responded to 58 enquiries
• made 47 decisions
  • 12 community care grants
  • 35 crisis grants
• upheld 4 (33%) of community care grants and 6 (17%) of crisis grants
• signposted an additional 38 applicants to other sources of assistance. 87% of these were calling us instead of their local council in error and the remaining 13% noted accessibility issues as their council had no freephone number
• received 16 enquiries from local councils seeking advice on the guidance

Stakeholder engagement 

Our new Scottish Welfare Fund information video is live! This animation explains what support the SWF can offer and gives an overview of the application and review process.