Informing residents about hazards arising from the living environment is a state responsibility and one of the measures of civil protection. Internationally, the goal has been set that every person must receive an early warning in the event of danger. In Estonia, the active development of rapid warning began in 2018, and the first stage of the system was completed at the end of 2022.

As of 19 January 2023, in cases of events that endanger people’s lives, health, or the security of the state, and during government-level exercises, it has been possible to send an alert to the mobile phones of those located in a defined danger area. The law refers to this as an area-based rapid warning. A year later, the law was amended to grant the right to send warnings also during extensive military exercises.

The area-based rapid warning is transmitted as a location-based SMS (in Estonia, the sender name is EE-ALARM). The area-based rapid warning via SMS is one of the channels for delivering alerts. For the location-based transmission of such SMS, it is necessary to process the location data of mobile devices situated in the designated danger zone. The article analyses the resulting interference with the rights of recipients and the permissibility of such processing in the case of different types of events.

Helen Ojamaa-Muru, Adviser to the Chancellor of Justice, together with two co-authors, published an article on this subject in the journal Juridica.

Members of the Committee on Direct Citizen Participation, Citizens’ Complaints, and Interaction with Civil Society heard today the candidate for Deputy Ombudsman Maria Filipova.

1 September 2025

Members of the Committee on Direct Citizen Participation, Citizens’ Complaints, and Interaction with Civil Society heard today the candidate for Deputy Ombudsman Maria Filipova.

She was presented by Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva. Delcheva reminded the MPs that on 14 August 2025, the Ombudsman Institution held a public hearing of three candidates for the position of deputy ombudsman, nominated by non-governmental organisations.

The candidates were evaluated by a committee formed by the Ombudsman, including members of the Advisory Council to the Ombudsman – Prof. Tsvetan Sivkov, Prof. Gabriela Belova, Assoc. Prof. Ralitsa Ilkova, Assoc. Prof. Aneta Antonova, and Assoc. Prof. Hristo Ormandzhiev, in accordance with a pre-announced methodology on the Ombudsman's website. The committee ranked Ms. Maria Filipova first.

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva pointed out that Maria Filipova has a master's degree in law from the University of National and World Economy and additional qualifications and specializations in assessing the impact of legislation and public policies, implementation of EU law in Bulgaria, legal regulation and application of the Civil Procedure Code, specifics of intercultural communication, etc.

She added that Maria Filipova has many years of professional experience in the field of human rights as a practicing lawyer, junior and senior expert at the Ministry of Justice, deputy chair of the Financial Supervision Commission, and chair of the Consumer Protection Commission.

The Ombudsman pointed out that in her concept for work as Deputy Ombudsman, Maria Filipova focused on the following sensitive human rights issues: the need for direct contact with citizens on important current issues (access to drinking water, quality of public services, access to healthcare, etc.), conducting information campaigns targeting the needs of different social groups (the elderly, children, people with disabilities, etc.) in connection with the transition to the euro, protecting consumers from unfair commercial practices and unfair terms in relations between citizens and public service providers, etc.

"As evident from the proposal of the Bulgarian National Association of Active Consumers, Maria Filipova possesses the requiredy personal and professional qualities, resolve and steadfastness in defending consumer rights, which will enable her to effectively perform the duties of Deputy Ombudsman," Delcheva stated.

The Ombudsman also pointed out to the MPs that Filipova had been actively involved in issues related to citizens' rights and freedoms and, in her capacity as an expert at the Ministry of Justice, had been part of the team that drafted the new Criminal Code. She participated in public consultations, following which amendments and additions were proposed to the Enforcement of Sentences and Detention Act, the Judiciary System Act, and legislation in the field of juvenile justice.

Maria Filipova, who is currently chair of the CPC, emphasized that she would continue to maintain good communication and partnership with the media and MPs so that citizens' rights were protected without compromise.  

She added that the outreach reception meetings will be an important part of her work, so that people feel the presence of the Ombudsman close to them and recognize the Institution as their defender.

When asked by MPs in various forms whether she would accept the position of caretaker prime minister, Maria Filipova replied that she had already stated her opinion on the matter and would no longer answer hypothetical questions.

Speech - Speaker Teresa Anjinho - City Strasbourg - Country France - Date Tuesday | 09 September 2025

Madame la première Vice-présidente Sabine Verheyen, Madame la Maire Jeanne Barseghian, Mesdames et Messieurs les Membres du Parlement européen, chers invités, amis et collègues.

Je vous remercie de vous joindre à nous en cette soirée très spéciale qui marque le trentième anniversaire du Médiateur européen.

Je remercie tout particulièrement la ville de Strasbourg non seulement pour nous avoir donné l’opportunité d'organiser cette soirée dans ce lieu magnifique, mais surtout pour avoir accueilli notre institution pendant toutes ces années.

Permettez-moi également de profiter de l’occasion pour souligner que l’un des avantages les moins évoqués du statut de Médiatrice européenne est la possibilité de passer plus de temps dans votre belle ville.

It is most fitting that Strasbourg is the home of our Office as it is also the home of the European Parliament, the EU’s only directly elected institution. Our presence here is therefore a strong symbol of our connection to citizens and our role as a bridge between them and the EU administration.

The European Ombudsman has come a long way over the course of these last thirty years. What started in 1995 with a handful of staff finding their footing in a temporary office has evolved into the EU’s uncontested guardian of good administration. Over three decades, the Office has helped countless Europeans resolve their concerns. Sometimes this meant helping a single citizen gain access to documents that seemed out of reach; other times, it meant persuading the administration to adopt higher standards of transparency for the benefit of millions.

In this way, the Ombudsman has served not only individuals but also the Union as a whole—helping it embody the values of accountability, fairness, and respect for rights that are at the heart of the European project.

These developments were shaped in large part by the vision and thoughtful leadership of the talented men and women who have led this office: the first Ombudsman Jacob Söderman, then Nikiforos Diamandouros, and Emily O’Reilly. It is an honour to follow in their footsteps.

But the story of the Ombudsman is also the story of its staff: highly skilled, deeply motivated professionals, many of whom have dedicated decades of their lives to this mission. To all of them - past and present - I say thank you.

This collective dedication and hard work gives us good reason to look back at these past thirty years with pride. It also lays solid foundations from which we can tackle the challenges of the future with confidence.

In the face of a worrying decline in public trust in institutions, rapid technological changes, and the increasingly transactional nature of global politics, the recent Eurobarometer also reflects a clear desire by citizens for a stronger and more engaged Europe. Against this backdrop, the work of the European Ombudsman - and of ombudsmen in general - will only grow in importance.

There will be many tests on the road ahead. For instance, how do we ensure that decision-making remains transparent, accountable, and inclusive even during times of urgency or crisis? How can we take advantage of the power of AI without repeating past mistakes - without creating a world that leaves people behind? And how can we confront today’s challenges without undermining the very pillars of the European project, rooted in humanist values and reflected in our fundamental principles and rights?

In these tumultuous times, I like to think of the Ombudsman as something akin to an observatory. Not one that gazes at distant stars, but one that studies the daily realities of public administration. Through the complaints we receive, we see patterns others may miss: the impact of administrative decisions on citizens’ lives, the warning signs of unfairness, the storms of mistrust that may be brewing. And from this vantage point, we can guide institutions toward fairer skies and more just solutions.

This is, in the end, the Ombudsman’s unique value. Institutions may change, laws may be rewritten, technology may transform how we live. But what must never change is the promise that there will always be someone to ensure that administration serves the people, that fundamental rights are respected, and that no one is left behind.

And perhaps most importantly of all, there will always be someone ready to listen.

I hope you all enjoy this wonderful evening. Thank you once again for celebrating with us.

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