European Network of Ombudsmen Conference

Organised by the

European Ombudsman

8 – 9 March 2018

Concert Noble

Rue d’Arlon / Aarlenstraat 84

Brussels

Belgium

 

Programme

 

Topics:

 

• The Future of the EU – What kind of Europe? Ensuring an inclusive and fair society for citizens
• Current and future challenges for ombudsmen
• Cross-border problem solving for EU citizens

 

 

Thursday, 8 March

9.30 - 10.15

Registration and welcome coffee

Session 1

The Future of the EU – What kind of Europe?

Ensuring an inclusive and fair society for citizens

10.15 – 12.30

Moderator

Shada Islam

Panellists

• Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman
• Georges Dassis, President of the European Economic and Social Committee
• Reinier van Zutphen, Dutch Ombudsman
• Andreas I. Pottakis, Greek Ombudsman
• Adam Bodnar, Polish Ombudsman
• Ulrike Guérot, Professor of European Policy and the Study of Democracy

 

12.30 – 14.00

Lunch at Conference venue

Session 2

Current and future challenges for ombudsmen

14.00 – 15.00

Moderator

Shada Islam

Presentation of the working groups. The topics for this session have been chosen in light of the feedback and Network survey conducted after the 2017 ENO conference.

• Social media: How to enhance Ombudsmen’s communication activities

Chair: Jon Worth, journalist and political blogger

Panellist: Alessandro Bellantoni, Senior Policy Analyst and Head of the Open Government Unit, OECD

• Minorities: How to deal with specific problems, e.g. as regards LGBT, Roma and other minorities

Chair: Manuel Lezertua Rodríguez, Ombudsman of the Basque Country

• Migration crisis: Best practices for practical problem-solving as regards the integration of refugees and migrants

Chair: Elisabeth Rynning, Swedish Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman

 

15.00 – 15.30

Coffee break

15.30 – 17.30

Break-out sessions for the three working groups (social media, minorities, migration)

19.30 – 22.00

Dinner at Conference venue

Friday, 9 March

Session 3

Cross-border problem solving for EU citizens

9.00 – 10.30

Moderator

Shada Islam

 

Panellists

• Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman
• Marlene Mizzi, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Petitions, European Parliament
• Günther Kräuter, Austrian Ombudsman and IOI Secretary General
• Guido Herman, Federal Ombudsman, Belgium
• Lowri Evans, Director-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship (European Commission)

 

10.30 – 11.15

Coffee break and group photo

Session 4

Presentation of working group findings

 

11.15 – 12.45

Moderator

Shada Islam

• Social media: How to enhance Ombudsmen’s communication activities

Jon Worth, Social Media Expert

• Minorities: How to deal with specific problems, e.g. as regards LGBT, Roma and other minorities

Manuel Lezertua Rodríguez, Ombudsman of the Basque Country

• Migration crisis: Best practices for practical problem-solving as regards the integration of refugees and migrants

Elisabeth Rynning, Swedish Chief Parliamentary Ombudsman

Closing of the conference

12.45 – 13.00

• Emily O'Reilly, European Ombudsman

 

13.00 – 14.00

Lunch at Conference venue