The unprecedented challenges facing the EU compel all institutions to ensure the highest level of transparency and accountability in their work, say MEPs.
The Petitions Committee report on EU Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly’s work in 2016 was passed by 19 votes to 1, with 1 abstention. It supports the Ombudsman’s commitment to improve EU lobbying transparency, and advocates making the EU Transparency Register a mandatory openness hub for all EU institutions and agencies.
 
MEPs also praise her determination to respond promptly to the needs of EU citizens, and state that it must be the rule for EU institutions to uphold the highest level of transparency and access to documents.
 
Transparency focus
 
Following the same pattern as in previous years, transparency-related issues also topped the Ombudsman's list of 245 inquiries opened in 2016. MEPs welcome her strategic inquiries into the Commission’s expert groups and how the institution assesses its special advisers to determine conflicts of interest.
 
They also support the Ombudsman’s role in shaping a transparency policy for clinical trials carried out by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and call for greater openness in the EU’s economic and financial decision-making process, in particular when it comes to supervision performed by the European Central Bank.
 
Unprecedented challenges
 
The unprecedented challenges facing the EU today, such as unemployment, the migration crisis and Brexit, compel all EU agencies, bodies, offices and agencies to work harder to ensure the highest levels of social justice, transparency and accountability, says the text. MEPs reiterate the importance of openness on the part of all EU institutions in the Brexit negotiations between the EU and the British government, and call on the Ombudsman to monitor the process.
 
They finally want the European Commission to guarantee full transparency regarding the jobs that former Commissioners take once they leave office.
 
Next steps
 
The report is scheduled for a plenary vote during Parliament’s November session in Strasbourg.
 
Quote
 
“I congratulate the Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly, for her excellent work in improving the quality and accessibility of the Ombudsman’s services. This year’s Parliament report aims to make the Ombudsman services more visible, efficient and to have a greater impact in deepening the dialogue with European citizens. In such turbulent times, when the EU is facing unprecedented challenges, the role of the Ombudsman is crucial in bridging the gap between people and the EU institutions”, said rapporteur Marlene Mizzi (S&D, MT).
 
Quick facts
 
The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the institutions and bodies of the European Union. Emily O'Reilly (Ireland) was re-elected European Ombudsman by the Parliament at its plenary Strasbourg session on 16 December 2014.
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Ref.: 20171011IPR85813
Created: 11-10-2017 - 12:15

Councils are putting foster children at a disadvantage compared to their peers when it comes to school transport, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has found.

The Ombudsman is now asking councils across England to check their approach after it emerged foster children living further away from school than their peers were being treated differently by Warwickshire County Council.

The Ombudsman’s investigation found the council told foster carers, whose children had to attend schools beyond statutory walking distance, they must pay for school transport out of the fostering allowance. This is despite the children being entitled to free school transport.

Using the fostering allowance in this way meant those children received less support than foster children who live closer to their school. They were also being treated differently to children who live with their birth families and attend schools beyond statutory walking distance, who would have free transport.

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Michael King, said:

“For many foster children, who have often had a turbulent start in life, councils sometimes decide it is important they maintain the stability of attending the same school regardless of where they are living. The children and their foster carers living further away should not be penalised for this.

“I am aware there are a number of other councils across the country taking the same incorrect approach as Warwickshire. I will be writing to those I have identified to make them aware of these findings.

“I am pleased that by the end of the investigation Warwickshire County Council accepted its policy was wrong. I would now urge others to check their own policies as a matter of urgency to ensure they are treating fosters carers, and the children they look after, fairly when it comes to school transport.”

The problems came to light after a couple who are foster carers complained Warwickshire County Council gave incorrect advice when they agreed to look after a child.

The council told the couple the child had to attend a school 4.6 miles away from their home, and they would have to drive the child there every day – without receiving any mileage allowance.

The couple were told to pay the cost out of the fostering allowance it paid them to care for the child. They drove more than 3,000 miles taking the child to and from school.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s role is to remedy injustice and share learning from investigations to improve local public, and adult social care, services.

In this case, the council has agreed to apologise to the carers and reimburse them for the period they transported the child to school.

The council has also agreed to review a number of handbooks and policies to ensure looked after children, who are eligible, receive free home to school transport.

It will also write to all foster carers inviting them to complain if they believe they have been similarly affected, and in future ensure all foster carers receive clear information about the allowances and expenses payable.

Article date: 11 October 2017

El Defensor del Pueblo (e.f.), Francisco Fernández Marugán, ha valorado positivamente que el Real Decreto que regula la aplicación del bono social de electricidad para consumidores vulnerables recoja las recomendaciones formuladas por la Institución.

Así, la nueva regulación aprobada por el Consejo de Ministros del pasado viernes establece la renta como criterio para acceder al bono social e introduce medidas que protegen a los consumidores en el mercado libre, tal y había recomendado el Defensor del Pueblo.

También contempla que no se corte el suministro por impago sin antes verificar con los servicios sociales la posible situación de vulnerabilidad de los consumidores afectados.

Para el Defensor del Pueblo esta medida es especialmente relevante. La Institución lleva años recomendando establecer procedimientos de comunicación y coordinación entre las empresas suministradoras y los servicios sociales antes de realizar un corte de suministro, para evitar que personas en situación de vulnerabilidad se queden sin electricidad.

Otras recomendaciones del Defensor del Pueblo que incorpora el nuevo bono social eléctrico son la modulación del umbral de renta para proteger a determinados colectivos (menores, mayores y personas con discapacidad) y la introducción de mecanismos de recurso contra las peticiones denegadas.

En las conclusiones de las jornadas sobre protección de los consumidores vulnerables en materia de energía eléctricas organizadas por el Defensor del Pueblo en marzo de 2017, la Institución destacaba la importancia de proteger los hogares donde residan menores de edad, personas mayores y personas con discapacidad.

En opinión de Fernández Marugán, “hay que valorar el principio de interés superior del menor, y el hecho de que la falta de suministro eléctrico afecta al derecho fundamental a la educación, porque en los meses de invierno los menores han de realizar sus tareas escolares después de la puesta de sol”. Del mismo modo, para el Defensor, “las personas mayores y las personas con discapacidad cuentan con unas necesidades particulares que no pueden olvidarse”.

El Defensor del Pueblo envió en abril de este año recomendaciones a la Secretaría de Estado de Energía para que fueran tenidas en cuenta en el reglamento que desarrolla el Real Decreto-Ley 7/2016 sobre el bono social eléctrico.

Estas recomendaciones perseguían definir:

• – Un concepto de consumidor vulnerable de acuerdo con criterios de renta del consumidor.
• – Modular el umbral de renta de conformidad con las circunstancias personales.
• – Dar publicidad suficiente a los requisitos para acceder al bono social.
• – Establecer un procedimiento de impugnación en caso de denegación del derecho al bono social.
• – Aplicar el bono social eléctrico a los consumidores vulnerables acogidos al mercado libre.
• – Proteger contra el corte de suministro a los consumidores vulnerables ante impagos de deudas originado en una refacturación por supuesto fraude.
• – Proteger especialmente contra el corte de suministro a menores, personas mayores y personas con discapacidad.
• – Establecer un órgano de cooperación administrativa que se reúna con carácter periódico para resolver los problemas que se planteen en la aplicación de las nuevas medidas.

Precisamente, Fernández Marugán presentará el martes 17 de octubre en la Comisión Mixta Congreso-Senado de Relaciones con el Defensor del Pueblo el estudio “Protección de los consumidores vulnerables en materia de energía eléctrica”, que recopila la doctrina de la Institución en esta materia.

 DOCUMENTACIÓN RELACIONADA

Mayo 2017.  Estudio sobre protección consumidores vulnerables en materia de energía eléctrica

18/04/2017. Recomendaciones para mejorar la situación de los consumidores vulnerables en materia de energía eléctrica

27/03/2017. Jornadas sobre medidas para la protección de los consumidores vulnerables en materia de energía eléctrica