By Martin Banks - 1st December 2009
There needs to be more visibility
Vittorio Bottoli
The candidates seeking to become the next European ombudsman have set out their credentials for the job.
Current ombudsman Nikforous Diamandouros is one of three contenders for the Strasbourg-based post.
The Greek official is seeking a second term in office.
The other candidates are Vittorio Bottoli, currently ombudsman for the northern Italian Veneto region, and Belgium's Pierre-Yves Monette.
Each candidate was 'screened' by parliament's petitions committee on Monday before a final decision is made in a secret ballot in January.
Diamandouros, who has occupied the post since 2003, said he was particularly keen on another term following ratification of the Lisbon treaty.
"The treaty gives us an enormous chance to reach out to citizens more than ever before," he said.
"I have really enjoyed my time in the post and hope to serve another term."
Bottoli said that after 10 years as a regional ombudsman he has the experience for the job.
"There is no national ombudsman in Italy so I enjoy pretty much the same status.
"The one thing I would seek to do is raise the profile of the office of European ombudsman. There needs to be more visibility and public awareness of what he does."
Monette promised "renovation" and "innovation". A good ombudsman must "defend traditional rights while facing new challenges", he said.
Monette stressed the need to ensure transparency across the EU institutions and bodies, and proposed to appoint a "transparency officer" for each one.
He also pledged to follow closely the implementation of the EU charter of fundamental rights and noted that the Lisbon treaty's entry into force which would, he believes; make the ombudsman's role "prominent".
Finally, he said he would strive to reduce the duration of the ombudsman's enquiries.
Romanian Socialist member Victor Bostinaru quizzed the candidates on the measures they plan to take to promote transparency in EU institutions while British ALDE deputy Diana Wallis asked about the number of institutions which European citizens may approach to lodge a complaint, "which can be confusing."
Committee chair Erminia Mazzoni stressed the importance of the post, saying the ombudsman enjoyed "considerable" responsibility.
The ombudsman's office, set up by the Maastricht treaty in 1992, examines complaints from EU citizens against the EU's administration.
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