Peter Svetina, the human rights ombudsman, is hosting the Greek ombudsman, Dr Andreas I Pottakis, the regional president for Europe at the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), on an official visit. His official visit to Slovenia is further evidence of the excellent relations between their two institutions, and recognition of the work of Slovenia’s human rights ombudsman at the international level. Dr Pottakis met the leadership of the institution in Slovenia, for discussions on the constitutional foundation of their respective institutions, the process of lodging requests to assess the constitutionality of legislation, and the issues that people bring to the institutions. They highlighted the importance of the work of all institutions in line with the international standards of human rights, and the strengthening of the position of the ombudsman at the national and international levels. Attention was focused too on tasks in connection with the national preventive mechanism. The Greek ombudsman was also received by President Borut Pahor.

“Working together enriches us, and raises awareness that we are all part of the same Europe and that we are working for the good of the people, that we are their voice, particularly for all the marginalised and discriminated-against,” said Mr Svetina during the visit. He also said that spreading a culture of dialogue and upholding human rights at the national, regional and international levels was the joint commitment of the two institutions. “Recent events, most notably Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic, have shown that respect for human rights can never be taken for granted, and that peace, democracy, the rule of law and human rights need our ceaseless commitment,” he reiterated. He noted that one of the principles of the European Union is that human rights are an essential element linking all EU policies, and in his opinion they should be a guide for all decision-makers. He therefore took the opportunity to note that at the proposal of the European Commission, the Council of the European Union adopted the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 in November 2020, setting out the priorities and main areas of action during this period, namely protecting and empowering individuals, building resilient, inclusive and democratic societies, promoting a global system for human rights and democracy, harnessing the opportunities and addressing the challenges of new technologies, and delivering by working together.

During his visit Dr Pottakis said that the institution of the Human Rights Ombudsman in Slovenia has, through its actions and results, sovereignly shared its experience and practice with other ombudsman institutions, and is a highly respected partner and sought-after collaborator in the international environment. No little confirmation of this comes from Mr Svetina’s unanimous election to be one of the seven directors at the regional level for the IOI, where he plays an important role. The IOI brings together more than 200 ombudsman organisations from all over the world, including Slovenia.

In the background of the visit was a meeting of the Nafplion Group, which was created at the initiative of the Greek ombudsman and certain other ombudsman institutions and national preventive mechanisms in Council of Europe member-states. The focus of the talks, in which Mr Svetina and his deputy Ivan Šelih took part, was the challenges in monitoring forced returns within Frontex. Conversation also turned to police conduct with regard to foreign nationals crossing European borders. The participants reiterated their commitment to a human approach to all people in all fields.

In the informal part of their time together Mr Svetina and his Greek colleague visited Bled, where they were received by the mayor, Janez Fajfar, and Brda, where they met local figures including the mayor, Franc Mužič.

Diesmal präsentierte „Bürgeranwalt“ einen Fall von Bewohnerinnen und Bewohnern des Erholungsgebiets Laaer Berg im 10. Wiener Bezirk. Sie beschwerten sich zum einen über die Lärm- und Sicherheitsgefährdung durch eine Roadrunner- und Tuningszene, die vor ihren Haustüren an den Wochenenden Beschleunigungsrennen durchführe, explosionsartige Knallgeräusche durch Zündunterbrecher verursache, Reifenquietschen etc. Zum anderen seien auch stundenlange Hochzeitscorsos, die vor allem durch dauerhaftes Hupen und Blockieren von Straßen auffallen würden, ein Problem. Das rücksichtslose Verhalten der Verkehrsrowdies, die teils erst ganz knapp vor Fußgängerinnen und Fußgängern – sogar Kindern – abbremsen bzw. anhalten, sei gefährlich. Auf ihr Verhalten angesprochen reagierten die Autofahrer äußerst aggressiv.

Die Polizei lasse die Bewohnerinnen und Bewohner im Stich, Anrufe empfinde die Polizei offenbar eher als Belästigungen. Die Tuning- und Roadrunnerszene sei sehr gut organisiert und löse sich – sobald sich die Polizei nähere – rasch auf. Teilweise seien Bodenschwellen errichtet worden, die jedoch kaum Abhilfe schaffen würden. Außer baulichen Maßnahmen wären auch Streetworker gefragt. Polizeistreifen vor Ort würden die Lage nur beobachten ohne einzuschreiten. Laut einer Sprecherin der Landespolizeidirektion (LPD) Wien sei die Problematik bekannt, die Polizei nehme die Beschwerden ernst und setze seit einiger Zeit gezielte Maßnahmen. So würde die örtliche Polizeiinspektion in dem Bereich täglich Verkehrsanhaltungen tätigen, mehrmals monatlich fänden auch Planquadrate statt, teils auch in Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Bezirken.

Der Favoritner Bezirksvorsteher, der ebenfalls in der Gegend wohnt, klärte auf, dass Bodenschwellen errichtet worden seien, um das „Driften“ der Autos zu verhindern. Ein Fahrzeug sei zuvor sogar in einem Garten „gelandet“. Favoriten verfüge außerdem über zu wenig Polizei: Auf 100.000 Einwohner kämen in Österreich im Schnitt 333 Polizeibedienstete, sein Bezirk habe jedoch wesentlich mehr Einwohner und nicht einmal 333 Polizeibedienstete.

(...)

Link: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2022-07/cp220123en.pdf

Languages available: en fr

PRESS RELEASE No 123/22

Luxembourg, 13 July 2022

Judgment of the General Court in Case T-227/21 | Illumina v Commission

The General Court upholds the decisions of the Commission accepting a referral request from France, as joined by other Member States, asking it to assess the proposed acquisition of Grail by Illumina

The Commission has the competence to examine that concentration which did not have a European dimension or fall within the scope of the national merger control rules of Member States of the European Union or States party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area

Illumina is an American company specialising in genomic sequencing. It develops, manufactures and markets integrated systems for genetic analysis, in particular next generation genomic sequencers which are used, among other things, in the development of cancer screening tests. Grail is an American biotechnology company which relies on genomic sequencing to develop such cancer screening tests. (...)

Equality, non-discrimination and racism

When 14 July 2022

Where Vienna, Austria

Organised By Joint Summer School on EU Policy Making

Joint event

On 14 July, FRA will meet 44 students and members of the Diplomatische Akademie Wien - Vienna School of International Studies and of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

They will be in Vienna as part of their joint Summer School on EU Policy Making. FRA will propose lectures on the themes of equality, non-discrimination and racism. The lectures will complement the Summer School’s focus on “Analysing civil rights in today’s EU”, offering the visitors expert insight.