EU Ombudsman Diamandouros to EuroFora : Big Changes for EU Citizens' Rights after Lisbon Treaty

*Strasbourg/EU Parliament/Angelo Marcopolo/- The recent entry into force of Lisbon Treaty introduces many changes in favor of EU Citizens' Rights, stressed EU Ombudsman, professor Nikiforos Diamandouros, to "EuroFora", in statements made after EU Parliament re-elected him for a new period of 5 Years (2010 - 2014) :

-   At first, new Rules, concerning EU Citizens' Fundamental Rights entered into force thanks to Lisbon Treaty, he observed.

- Moreover, our Monitoring extends now to all EU Decisions affecting Citizens, f.ex. all EU Council's decision-making, he added.

- It includes even EU Member States' activities when they are applying EU Law, he observed.

- Last, but not least, "I intend to largely use the EU Law clause which introduces Citizens' Right to a Good Administration", anounced Diamandouros. The move opens new possibilities for the creation of a kind of "Case Law" on EU Citizens' Rights, due to be progressively shaped by the practice and decisions taken by EU's Court of Justice and/or EU Ombudsman while monitoring EU institutions' acts, he acknowledged.

Another among Diamandouros' "Priorities" for the next 5 years is to strengthen evenmore the principle of "Transparency" in EU decisions, as well as to ameliorate the "Efficiency" in the way that his Office operates in real practice.

Diamandouros, a former University Professor from Greece, will soon complete a Decade as EU Ombudsman, since he was initially elected on 2003. His  2010 re-election was the result of a hard fought struggle vis a vis a strong competitor, Belgian professor at the Bruges College, Yves Monette, with 340 and 289 votes respectively, out of 648 valid votes (i.e. more than the absolute Majority).


During his mandate, the EU Ombudsman is due to work closely together with EU Parliament's Petitions Committee, whose new President, Erminia Mazzoni from Italy (ChristianDemocrat/EPP), held earlier a joint Press Conference in Strasbourg with Diamandouros : The 1st since Lisbon Treaty gave EU Citizens also the power to introduce a Legislative proposal with 1 million signatures, as it was reminded recently by EU Parliament's President, Jerzy Buzek, speaking to Journalists including "EuroFora".