„Die Volksanwaltschaft sorgt dafür, dass die Verwaltung mit Herz und Hirn funktioniert“, sagt Volksanwalt Bernhard Achitz: „Wenn notwendig, regt die Volksanwaltschaft auch Gesetzesänderungen an. Erfreulich, wenn sie auch aufgegriffen werden.“ Nun hat der Kärntner Landtag einen Beschluss gefasst, der von der Volksanwaltschaft schon seit Jahren gefordert wird: Einrichtungen für chronisch psychiatrisch kranke Menschen werden ab 1. Mai 2023 in das Kärntner Chancengleichheitsgesetz (K-ChG) aufgenommen...

The Parliamentary Ombudsman, Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, was the main speaker at the Quarterly Law Seminar discussing the Ombudsman Remedy in Malta organised by the Chamber of Advocates in collaboration with the Office of the Ombudsman, the University of Malta, and the Malta Law Academy...

Alors que l’opération « Wuambushu » visant à lutter contre l’immigration irrégulière, l’habitat indigne et la délinquance à Mayotte, a débuté et au regard des risques qu’elle présente, la Défenseure des droits rappelle que la nécessité de garantir l’ordre public et la sécurité ne peut, en aucun cas, autoriser des atteintes aux droits et libertés fondamentales des personnes.  

Am 26. April präsentierten Volksanwältin Gaby Schwarz und die Volksanwälte Bernhard Achitz und Walter Rosenkranz den Jahresbericht der Volksanwaltschaft 2022 und gaben anhand einzelner Beschwerdefälle und Wahrnehmungen Einblicke in die Prüftätigkeit der Volksanwaltschaft im Bereich der „Kontrolle der öffentlichen Verwaltung“ sowie der „Präventiven Menschenrechtskontrolle“...

The Ombudsman has published her annual report for 2022 with transparency and accountability issues representing the largest percentage of complaints (32%).

The report provides an overview of key areas of the Ombudsman’s work, such as her suggestions to the European Commission, European Central Bank, and European Investment Bank for better managing moves by their staff to the private sector (so-called revolving doors). It also focuses on her work on access to documents, including her practical recommendations for the EU administration when it comes to recording work-related text and instant messages. Other subjects covered by the report include the inquiry into how the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) complies with its fundamental rights obligations and her call on the Commission to ensure a balanced representation of interests in relation to the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy.

In 2022, the Ombudsman opened 348 inquires, including four on her own initiative. The average length of an inquiry was under six months with nearly half (48%) of inquires closed within three months.

Overview of responses to public consultation on environmental decision making

The Ombudsman has also published an overview of the responses to her public consultation on transparency and participation in EU environmental decision making.

Respondents pointed out cases where they faced difficulties accessing certain documents, such as those related to negotiations on draft legislation between the European Commission, European Parliament, and Council of the European Union. They also said that certain documents were frequently published late and that some information published by the EU administration was not user friendly.