The Ombudsman promotes good administration at EU level. We help citizens, organisations, and businesses solve issues they may encounter when dealing with the EU administration. We also proactively look into broader systemic issues. Learn about our work: www.ombudsman.europa.eu/doc/annual-r...

We have found maladministration for European Commission refusal to grant access to documents related to projects applying for recognition as a ‘Strategic Project’ under the Critical Raw Materials Act – a status that requires their permit process to be fast-tracked.

Recommendation on how the European Commission handled a request for public access to documents related to projects that have been recognised as ‘Strategic Projects’ under the Critical Raw Materials Act

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We welcome the commitment by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) to handle candidates’ requests for review in the context of EU civil service selection procedures more efficiently. We will continue to monitor the implementation of these new measures.

Ombudswoman welcomes EU personnel office’s commitment to improve how it handles requests for review

European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has welcomed the commitment by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) to handle more efficiently candidates’ requests for review in the context of EU civil service selection procedures.

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With urgent law-making becoming more frequent, it is vital that speed does not come at the expense of transparent, evidence-based and inclusive decision-making. Ombudswoman Anjinho explains our recent finding concerning the preparation of urgent legislative proposals by the European Commission👇

🗞️ A new edition of the EO express newsletter is out now! Read about our latest work, including our finding of maladministration into how the EUAA supports Greek authorities in processing asylum applications, a new inquiry into food safety, as well as our 2025 Annual Report.

EO express 02/2026

The EO express brings you an overview of the European Ombudsman's recent activities, including inquiry openings, key findings, speeches and events.

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Following a complaint, the Ombudswoman has asked the @ec.europa.eu a series of questions about how it ensures that its ‘reality checks’ meetings with stakeholders follow transparency requirements for decision-making.

Ombudswoman opens inquiry into transparency of Commission’s ‘reality checks’ with stakeholders

European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has opened an inquiry to examine how the European Commission ensures that its ‘reality checks’ meetings with stakeholders...

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Today in Strasbourg, the city that hosts the seat of our Office, Ombudswoman Anjinho met Mayor Catherine Trautmann to discuss good administration in the EU and the importance of the ENO network as we celebrate its 30 years.

Following the European Commission's answer to a query by the Croatian Ombudsman office, there is more clarity about Croatian students’ right to access national health insurance when studying in another Member State.

Report of the European Ombudsman closing Query Q2/2025/AML from the Ombudswoman of the Republic of Croatia concerning health insurance for Croatian students studying in other EU countries

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We have found maladministration in how the EU Agency for Asylum - EUAA supports Greek authorities in processing asylum applications. EUAA should guarantee the protection of fundamental rights in its activities, including when it is only carrying out a support role.

EU Asylum Agency asked to improve how it conducts interviews with asylum seekers

European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has found several instances of maladministration in how the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA) supports Greek authorities in processing asylum applications.

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June was a busy month. This edition of the Debrief with Ombudswoman Anjinho looks back at the winners of the 2026 #EOAward, key inquiry developments related to urgent law making, and retaining text messages between Commissioners and national leaders, as well as her visit to Slovenia.

Earlier this week, the 2026 Award for Good Administration ceremony took place at the Solvay Bibliothèque in Brussels where the category, public vote, and overall award winners were announced. Congratulations to all 48 projects, keep up the good work! #EOAward 🏆 link.europa.eu/QJ8mdM

Following our inquiry into European Commission failure to inform the public that it was no longer planning a law related to sustainable food systems, the Commission agreed to be more transparent about the status of all policy initiatives.

Decision on the failure by the European Commission to inform the public about the status of its envisaged legislative proposal on sustainable food systems as foreseen under the EU 'Farm to Fork' Strategy

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Thank you for joining us today for the #EOAward 🏆 ceremony and for making the EU stronger through your projects. Keep up the good work! See all the winning projects 👇

Good Administration Award goes to Europol for project to help online safety for young people

Europol has won the 2026 European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration for a game designed to help children learn how to be safe online. By encouraging players to deal with different types of cybercrime such as fraud, identity theft, and online grooming, the ‘Cyber Defenders’ game aims to increase young people’s digital resilience.

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The 2026 #EOAward 🏆 overall winner is @europol.europa.eu for Cyber Defenders: Building digital resilience through a Roblox game! The project helps children build digital resilience by teaching them safe online behaviour and critical thinking 👮 🎮 👏 Congratulations!

The results of the #EOAward 🏆 public vote are in! With over 12 000 votes cast 🗳️, you have chosen...🎊 The European Climate Pact! Well-done to the entire team at @euenvironmentandclimate.ec.europa.eu Congratulations!

In the excellence in open administration category, it was the interinstitutional project by @consilium.europa.eu, @europarl.europa.eu, and @ec.europa.eu 🥇 who took the prize! Thank you for your work on the EU Law Tracker 💐

Shout-out to the @ec.europa.eu DG EAC for winning an #EOAward 🏆 in diversity and inclusion for their project DiscoverEU Inclusion Action. Keep up the good work - well done! 🎉

A round of applause for @euenvironmentandclimate.ec.europa.eu, our excellence in citizen/civil society participation category winner! 🥳 Thank you for the European Climate Pact 🌱! 🇪🇺 🙏 #EOAward 🏆

The #EOAward 🏆 for excellence in technological innovation and the use of AI goes to…🥁🎶 ...Cyber Defenders: Building digital resilience through a Roblox game, by @europol.europa.eu 👮 🎮 Congratulations!

Speaking at the #EOAward 2026, @tonymurphyeca.bsky.social congratulated nominees and empahised to all those who worked on the projects that ‘your work truly matters and makes a real difference to the citizens we serve'. Watch live: www.ombudsman.europa.eu/multimedia/v...

Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho opened the 2026 Award for Good Administration ceremony by putting a spotlight on the 48 inspiring projects driven by dedication, creativity, and a strong commitment to public service and good administration. 🔴 Live: www.ombudsman.europa.eu/multimedia/v... #EOAward 🏆

🔴 LIVE: European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration 2026 - Award Ceremony 🔹 Host: Teresa Anjinho, European Ombudswoman 🔹 Opening remarks: @tonymurphyeca.bsky.social, President of @euauditors.bsky.social 🔹 Moderator: Teri Schultz #EOAward 🏆 www.ombudsman.europa.eu/multimedia/v...

Last week, Ombudswoman Anjinho was in Slovenia where she attended the launch of a parallel inquiry by Slovenian Human Rights Ombudswoman Dr Drenik Bavdek to gather ombudsman input from around Europe on how Member States are implementing EU environmental laws. #ENOnetwork

We have found maladministration in the European Commission's refusal to give public access to a Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) opinion related to the Multimodal Digital Mobility Services legislative proposal. Particularly high transparency standards are required for legislative documents.

Maladministration found in the European Commission's refusal to give public access to a Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) opinion related to the Multimodal Digital Mobility Services legislative proposal.

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During ECAS Day, Ombudswoman Anjinho stressed that pluralism and respect for fundamental rights strengthen societal resilience, she also emphasised the importance of citizen and civil society participation in decision-making processes.

In closing our inquiry, we conclude that the European Commission response to our findings on its preparation of urgent legislative proposals while constructive overall is too general to determine if future urgent law-making will be sufficiently transparent, evidence-based, and inclusive.

Urgent decision-making procedures need further monitoring, says Ombudswoman

European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho has concluded that the European Commission’s response to her findings related to the preparation of urgent legislative proposals is overall constructive,  but remains too general to allow her to determine whether future urgent law-making will be sufficiently transparent, evidence-based, and inclusive. The Ombudswoman will therefore continue to monitor the situation through future complaints.

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Do not miss the European Ombudsman’s Award for Good Administration ceremony where Ombudswoman Anjinho will announce the category, public vote and overall award winners! 🗓️ 30 June 2026 ⌚️ 17:00-19:00 🔴 Watch live: https://link.europa.eu/t4hbv7 #EOAward 🏆

Following a complaint, we have asked European Commission to detail the steps it has taken since opening an infringement procedure in 2020 against Italy regarding the rules for granting authorisations for seaside tourism and leisure services (‘beach concessions').

Inquiry opened into how the European Commission is handling an infringement procedure concerning beach concessions in Italy (INFR(2020)4118)

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We are excited to announce the shortlisted projects for the 2026 #EOAward 🏆! On 30 June, EU Ombudswoman Anjinho will announce each category’s winner from this list before announcing our overall winner. Check them all out here: www.ombudsman.europa.eu/event-docume...

Only a few hours left to cast your vote for the #EOAward 🏆 2026! Take a look at all 48 nominated projects and choose your winner by midnight (CEST) : 🔗 https://link.europa.eu/QNgY9p Watch this space for more information on the live award ceremony! 🗓️ 30 June ⌚ 17:00 -19:00