Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva approached the Speaker of the National Assembly Rosen Zhelyazkov and the Minister of Justice Atanas Slavov to request that amendments to the legislation be initiated that provide for company registrations causing problems to citizens who seek assistance as companies or single-member companies have chosen for their registered office the address of their own real estate, without their knowledge and consent.

15 January 2024

Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva approached the Speaker of the National Assembly Rosen Zhelyazkov and the Minister of Justice Atanas Slavov to request that amendments to the legislation be initiated that provide for company registrations causing problems to citizens who seek assistance as companies or single-member companies have chosen for their registered office the address of their own real estate, without their knowledge and consent.

Prof. Kovacheva emphasizes that this practice leads to a number of problems and discomfort for the parties aggrieved. For instance, the service of summons for actions at law, default summons, voluntary payment notices, pressure by controlling authorities, by companies that are contracted to collect receivables following enforcement proceedings, by citizens who have been aggrieved by the companies etc.

The Ombudsman cites as the most recent example the complaint by a citizen who reports that her home address is the registered office of an individual involved in a crime, murder, in early January this year in the capital city. The citizen informs that when she checked for herself, it appeared that her abode is the registered office of more than eighty companies.

“It is important to inform you that the Ombudsman has brought the problem of registered office to the attention of Ministers of Justice with the recommendation that action be taken to discontinue the practice of companies to choose the domiciles of citizens as their management address without these citizens’ express consent. The matter was also brought to the attention of the National Assembly during the presentation of the Ombudsman’s 2021 and 2022 reports,” Diana Kovacheva wrote.

She emphasized that she had repeatedly stated opinions that the texts providing for company registration in the Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Persons Act and in the Commerce Act allow to choose for management address any domicile while the businessperson is under no obligation to give legal justification for the choice.

“The registered office (the seat) and the management address, together with the name, are the salient individualizing characteristics of a company. In addition to being salient individualizing characteristics, they have other important functions such as: to enable communication with the company; the registered office plays an important role in the determination of the venue of jurisdiction and in the fulfilment of various obligations when they are not agreed between the parties or are not governed by law,” the Ombudsman writes.

She writes further that the legislating authority did not set any specific requirements concerning the registered office and the management address of companies (which are not bound to show a title of ownership or a lease contract) and this makes it possible for them to give a random address, even a non-existing address that is entered into the Commercial Register.

“Though the provision of Art. 29 of the Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Persons Act reads that any person with legal interest, as well as a prosecution officer, may file a statement of action for establishment of entry nullity or inadmissibility, as well as for the non-existence of an entered circumstance, I do not see this as an efficient solution to the problem. First, on account of the difficulties arising and confronting the citizens aggrieved though it was not through their fault who are forced to go to court to seek a solution to the problem, to spend time and money and to make additional efforts. In addition, it is difficult to serve summons to such companies, as the address that they have given is not the address that they really use. Second, as the Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Persons Act and the Commerce Act do not outlaw the registration of a company at an address without the consent and knowledge of the proprietor, and even if a claim under Art. 29 of the Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Persons Act is granted by the court, there is no statutory bar and prohibition against the registration of the seat the company at the same address after the entry of its deletion. In this way citizens are trapped in a vicious circle,” Prof. Kovacheva states firmly.

Therefore, the Ombudsman insists that a discussion be initiated on the possibilities to find a solution to the problem, including proposals for the required amendments to the legislation.

on una nota ufficiale il Presidente del Coordinamento Nazionale dei Difensori Civici italiani Dott. Marino Fardelli ha espresso profonda preoccupazione riguardo alle condizioni detentive della cittadina italiana, Ilaria Salis, attualmente rinchiusa nelle prigioni di Budapest da oltre un anno senza aver ancora ricevuto un giusto processo.

“Il nostro obiettivo non è di sminuire o evitare il processo legale a cui la signora Salis è sottoposta, dichiara Marino Fardelli  – piuttosto, vogliamo richiamare l’attenzione sulle possibili violazioni dei diritti umani e fondamentali durante il suo periodo di detenzione. Secondo le informazioni che giungono dall’Italia, ci sono segnalazioni di una detenzione che potrebbe non rispettare i diritti fondamentali di cui gode ogni individuo. Per questo motivo ho scritto una nota all’Ombudsman dell’Ungheria, Mr. Ákos Kozma, chiedendo il suo intervento presso le Istituzioni competenti per verificare le condizioni della detenzione di Ilaria Salis. La nostra richiesta specifica è che, se possibile e giustificato, la signora Salis possa essere trasferita in Italia per scontare i domiciliari in condizioni rispettose dei suoi diritti fondamentali.

In virtù del principio di cooperazione internazionale e del rispetto per i diritti umani, il Coordinamento dei Difensori Civici italiani si è quindi rivolto all’Ombudsman dell’Ungheria, Mr. Ákos Kozma.

Leggi la nota > letter Dr. Ákos KOZMA

Amerdeep Somal has now been confirmed as England’s new Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Amerdeep will take up the post on 1 February 2024.

This appointment follows an open recruitment process and scrutiny by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee.

Amerdeep is also a Judge of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. She brings a wealth of professional experience to the role having been the Financial Regulators Complaints Commissioner and the Chief Commissioner at the Data and Marketing Commission. She was a former founding Commissioner of the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

On 1^st January 2024 Ms Somal took up her new role as the Board Chair of the Law Society of England and Wales, which will sit alongside her position as Ombudsman.

Amerdeep said:

“I am delighted to be taking on the hugely important role of Ombudsman, overseeing some of the most vital services provided to people across the country.

“The Ombudsman has a central role both in ensuring that individual complaints are investigated and as a key part of the wider system bringing about systemic change and improvement in local government and social care services. I look forward to taking up the role in February and to working to improve public services at a time of need for so many.”

Amerdeep takes on the role from Paul Najsarek, the interim Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, who remains in post as Ombudsman and Chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England (the board that runs the LGSCO) until 31^st January 2024.

Article date: 18 January 2024

The Chancellor’s Year in Review 2022/2023 summarizes the performance of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice in fulfilling the tasks assigned by law from 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023. 

This comprehensive overview spans a wide array of subjects, shedding light on the diverse responsibilities of the Chancellor. These include acting as the National Human Rights Institution, Ombudsman for Children, National Preventive Mechanism against ill-treatment, and overseeing obligations outlined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The report also explores areas such as the rule of law, equality, the environment, security, social rights, education, and various others. It provides valuable insights into the Chancellor's efforts to champion justice, protect human rights, and ensure the well-being of people living in Estonia.

In her address to the Parliament, Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise expressed gratitude to both past and present members of the Parliament and the government for their constructive collaboration. She also addressed various issues, such as the shortage of kindergarten spaces and the reduction of front-line officials, highlighting costly alternative activities in ministries. Additionally, she voiced concerns about the activity-based state budget, the adoption of European Union legislation without constitutional scrutiny, and the persistent problem of conflicts in the laws.

"Lastly, a subject likely to gain prominence in the upcoming overview year, if not in subsequent years. Unfortunately, we have witnessed a willingness in the public to overlook violations of the Constitution and fundamental rights for years. In the past, there was an economic crisis, then the pandemic, and now war. We observe an increasing number of draft laws and plans where security and safety are stated as arguments that do not seem to need further reasons. Therefore, esteemed Parliament, please deliberate on this matter and, if feasible, involve our office and other relevant parties. Is it appropriate to subordinate all constitutional freedoms and rights to an absolute security or security achievement objective?" alerted the Chancellor of Justice.

The Chancellor of Justice's annual overview is accessible here.

The Chancellor's speech to the Parliament and her responses to the questions posed by the Members of Parliament are documented in the stenogram.

Marino Fardelli, Difensore Civico della Regione Lazio e Presidente dei Difensori Civici Italiani, è lieto di annunciare l’incontro istituzionale con il Protector of Citizens della Serbia, Mr. Zoran Pašalić. Questi incontri, che fanno parte di una serie di appuntamenti pianificati, sono finalizzati a promuovere una cooperazione più stretta nella difesa civica tra Italia e Serbia.

L’agenda degli appuntamenti, che avranno luogo presso diverse sedi istituzionali tra Roma e Firenze, sottolinea non solo l’importanza di rafforzare i legami tra i Difensori Civici, ma anche l’impegno concreto per promuovere una collaborazione costruttiva volta a tutelare i diritti dei cittadini di entrambe le nazioni, lo scambio delle buone pratiche e l’opportunità di momenti di lavoro comune.

“Questa iniziativa rappresenta un passo avanti significativo nel rafforzamento delle relazioni tra Italia e la Serbia” afferma Marino Fardelli. “Il nostro impegno condiviso per la tutela dei diritti fondamentali dei cittadini e la promozione di valori comuni di pace e cooperazione è il motore di quest’iniziativa. Questo incontro segue un primo appuntamento che si è tenuto a Roma e nelle località di Cassino e Montecassino nel mese di novembre, e rappresenta un naturale sviluppo di quei fruttuosi colloqui.”

Durante i vari incontri, i Difensori Civici discuteranno temi di interesse comune, esploreranno opportunità per la collaborazione e condivideranno le migliori pratiche nella tutela dei diritti civici e nella promozione di un dialogo costruttivo tra le comunità.

Il Presidente del Consiglio regionale del Lazio On.le Antonello Aurigemma, diversi senatori e deputati nonché il sindaco di Firenze incontreranno in delegazione i due Omdusman per momenti di incontri e condivisione.

Leggi il programma degli incontri ITALIA SERBIA 2024 (1)