Europol has won the 2026 European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration for a game designed to help children learn how to be safe online.

By encouraging players to deal with different types of cybercrime such as fraud, identity theft, and online grooming, the ‘Cyber Defenders’ game on Roblox aims to increase young people's digital resilience.  

“I congratulate Europol for this initiative to keep young people safe online. The Cyber Defenders game is an excellent example of innovative thinking by an EU institution, and it is even more special for benefiting our youngest citizens,” said European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho.

Speaking about the overall quality of the 48 projects submitted for the Award of Good Administration, the Ombudswoman added:

“This year’s nominations highlighted the quality of the work of the EU institutions with projects clearly driven by dedication and a strong commitment to public service and good administration.” 

The winners were announced by the Ombudswoman during a ceremony in Brussels on 30 June with Tony Murphy, the President of the European Court of Auditors, as the keynote speaker.

The Award recognises actions by the EU public administration that have a visible and positive impact on the lives of citizens. Alongside the overall winner, prizes in four categories were awarded as well as a public vote winner.

List of the category award winners

European Climate Pact: Citizens Driving Europe’s Climate Action (European Commission)
Excellence in citizen/civil society participation

DiscoverEU Inclusion Action – Opening Europe to all young people (European Commission)
Excellence in diversity and inclusion

Cyber Defenders: Building digital resilience through a Roblox game (Europol)
Excellence in technological innovation and the use of AI

EU Law Tracker: following the legislative process (European Commission, European Parliament, Council of EU)
Excellence in open administration

Winner of the public vote

European Climate Pact: Citizens Driving Europe’s Climate Action

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European Ombudsman 'Award for Good Administration' 2026

As part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations, the Ombudsman’s Office organised a gathering on 25 June for current and former staff members, marking five decades of service in defending citizens’ rights, freedoms and guarantees.

The event brought together figures who have shaped the institution’s history, such as the first Deputy Ombudsman, Luís Lingnau da Silveira, who served during the term of office of the first Ombudsman, Colonel Manuel da Costa Braz. Also present were former Ombudsmen Professor José de Faria Costa and Councillor Alfredo José de Sousa.

The event took place in the month marking the 50th anniversary of the institution opening its doors to the public. It was on 9 June 1976 that the institution began its work at its premises at 38 Avenida 5 de Outubro, in Lisbon. The institution is currently based at the Palácio Vilalva in Lisbon.

You can find out more about who we are and what we do here.

Le Médiateur de la Wallonie et de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, Nicolas Lagasse, a rencontré le 4 juin 2026 Déborah Dewulf, Administratrice générale de l'Office de la Naissance et de l'Enfance (ONE), accompagnée de Tania Dubrulle, Directrice de la Direction juridique. Cette rencontre s'inscrit dans la tournée que le Médiateur effectue auprès des hauts fonctionnaires de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, du Service public de Wallonie et des organismes d'intérêt public.

Le rôle du Médiateur : un dialogue au service de la bonne administration

Nicolas Lagasse a présenté les missions de son institution et rappelé les normes ombuds — les principes de bonne administration qui guident son action. Il a souligné sa volonté de privilégier le dialogue direct avec les administrations, dans un esprit de soutien face aux défis managériaux qu'elles rencontrent : porter une vision au profit des citoyens, conduire des transformations organisationnelles et accompagner l'adhésion du personnel.  Cet accompagnement s'inscrit plus largement dans la mission du Médiateur de promouvoir et de consolider les bonnes pratiques administratives, afin que les droits des citoyens trouvent dans l'action quotidienne des services publics leur pleine et effective réalisation.

L'ONE en pleine transformation

Déborah Dewulf a présenté son institution : près de 1 900 travailleurs, un budget de 780 millions d'euros, et un contrat de gestion prolongé d'un an dans l'attente d'un nouveau projet en cours de discussion — un enjeu majeur en termes de gouvernance, avec notamment une plus grande transversalité dans la structure. L'ONE est actuellement engagée dans une transformation organisationnelle profonde, avec une orientation renforcée vers les usagers.

La directrice générale et le Médiateur ont également convenu de réviser leur protocole d'accord, afin de rendre leur collaboration plus efficace au service des réclamants : une meilleure réactivité, une accessibilité renforcée et un dialogue plus fluide dans le suivi des dossiers — notamment grâce à la désignation de points de contact uniques (SPOC) au sein de l'Office — sont autant de leviers qui permettront au Médiateur d'’assurer le suivi des réclamations des usagers avec davantage d'efficience.

Des thématiques concrètes pour les familles

Cette rencontre a été l'occasion de passer en revue les trajets d'amélioration des pratiques administratives engagés par l'ONE, d'examiner les différentes compétences et chantiers en cours, et d'aborder les points de friction identifiés dans les matières où le Médiateur relève un certain nombre de réclamations.

La qualité des réponses apportées aux citoyens et la motivation des décisions administratives ont été au cœur des discussions, tout comme la question de la transparence dans le calcul du tarif forfaitaire dans les milieux d'accueil, source de perte de confiance pour les familles. La question de l’adoption ou encore la pénurie de places en crèches et le système de priorité ont également été évoqués — l'ONE a indiqué travailler à la finalisation d'une plateforme dédiée au cadastre des places dans les milieux d'accueil, destinée à améliorer l'information et l'orientation des familles.

Un dialogue institutionnel à poursuivre

Cette rencontre a permis de réaffirmer la complémentarité entre le Médiateur et l'ONE, dans une logique partagée d'amélioration continue des services rendus aux familles. Nicolas Lagasse se réjouit de la qualité des échanges et de l'ouverture manifestée par l'Administratrice générale et son équipe, et entend poursuivre ce dialogue dans les mois à venir.

The Commissioner for Human Rights submitted an opinion to the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy regarding the draft Act on strengthening the application of the right to equal remuneration for men and women for equal work or work of equal value (No. UC127).

The purpose of the draft legislation is to implement into the Polish legal system Directive (EU) 2023/970 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which aims to strengthen the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women for the same work or work of equal value through pay transparency measures and enforcement mechanisms.

The draft provides for the establishment of a Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination in Employment, which is also intended to serve as an equality body. Both in terms of its personal scope (grounds of prohibited discrimination) and its material scope (areas in which discrimination is prohibited), the mandate of the Commissioner for Human Rights, defined primarily in the Act on the Commissioner for Human Rights, overlaps with the proposed mandate of the Commission.

This would result in the creation of a second equality body—alongside the Commissioner for Human Rights within the meaning of EU directives—whose mandate would be limited to the field of employment. In this regard, reference is made to Directive (EU) 2024/1500 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024, establishing standards for equality bodies in the field of equal treatment and equal opportunities between women and men in matters of employment and occupation and amending Directives 2006/54/EC and 2010/41/EU.

The latter conclusion arises not from the wording of the draft itself but from its explanatory memorandum. Given that the Commission’s mandate is not limited to a specific category of persons, clarification is required as to whether the Commission will also serve as an equality body in the field of employment within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2024/1499 of 7 May 2024 on standards for equality bodies in the areas of equal treatment irrespective of racial or ethnic origin; equal treatment in employment and occupation irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age, or sexual orientation; equal treatment of women and men in matters of social security; and equal treatment in access to and supply of goods and services, as well as amending Directives 2000/43/EC and 2004/113/EC.

The overlap of competences, as well as potential disputes regarding the respective mandates of equality bodies that may arise upon the entry into force of the proposed legislation, could have been avoided by creating a single equality body that complies with the standards set out in the above-mentioned directives.

One notable feature that clearly distinguishes the Commissioner for Human Rights from the Commission for the Prevention of Discrimination in Employment is that the Ombudsman’s mandate is limited to vertical disputes (between individuals and public authorities), whereas no such limitation would apply to the Commission.

The establishment of an equality body competent to resolve horizontal disputes (between private parties) implements a long-standing recommendation of the Commissioner for Human Rights and addresses a gap in protection against discrimination resulting from the Ombudsman’s limited mandate. Nevertheless, with regard to areas other than employment, there will still be no equality body whose mandate covers disputes between private entities to the extent required by Directive (EU) 2024/1499.

XI.022.6.2026

https://bip.brpo.gov.pl/pl/content/rpo-projekt-wynagrodzenia-plcie-opinia-mrpips

Credit: The State Emergency Service of Ukraine

“The Russian war against Ukraine continues to escalate with horrendous consequences for the people of Ukraine. I condemn the brutal overnight air attacks on Kyiv, which have killed at least 13 civilians, wounded over 80, and left more missing. Children are reported among the injured. My heartfelt sympathy goes to all those grieving lost loved ones, to the wounded, and to the individuals whose lives have been shattered by this appalling violence.

Attacks against civilian infrastructure and residential areas represent a violation of international humanitarian law. There is no justification for attacking civilians and the facilities their survival depends upon. These actions must not go unpunished. We must ensure full criminal accountability for those responsible and redress for the victims.

The international community must stand resolutely with the people of Ukraine, supporting every effort to secure justice and to put an end to the relentless suffering.”