Posts in "European Union" category

[News] A New Step Towards a European Code of Administrative Procedure (By guest blogger Thomas Perroud)

The European Ombudsman and the European Parliament have been
pushing for some time now for the drafting of a European code of administrative
procedure. The project is under way and the European Parliament has adopted a
Resolution with recommendations to the Commission on a Law of Administrative
Procedure of the European Union (available here).

The resolution is very general. The project would take the
form of a regulation and should aim at guaranteeing the right to good
administration by means of an open, efficient and independent administration
based on a European Law of Administrative Procedure. The scope of the Code is
clearer. It is limited to direct administration and to the relations with the
public: it should apply to the Union's institutions, bodies, offices and
agencies (‘the Union's administration') in their relations with the public.

An impact assessment was also made. It is to be found here.

-Thomas Perroud

[News] European Parliament Committee’s Opinion on an EU Code of Administrative Procedure

Thomas Perroud brought to our attention an interesting Opinion of the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament on the project of an EU Administrative Procedure Law.

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[News] The European Ombudsman’s Annual Report 2010

In a press conference in Brussels today the European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, presented his Annual Report 2010. The full Report (79 pages) and an 8-page Overview are available here.

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[News] Statistics concerning judicial activity in the EU in 2010

The Court of Justice of the European Union issued today a press release (available here) with statistics regarding judicial activity in 2010.

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The European Ombudsman launches public consultation on ethical principles for EU officials

According to a press release that came out today, the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has invited citizens, interest groups, and other organizations to submit comments on a draft statement of principles that should guide the conduct of EU civil servants. The draft “public service principles” take account of best practice in the Member States, established through a consultation with the European Network of Ombudsmen. Comments can be submitted until 15 May 2011 and will be considered before the principles are finalized.

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[News] The Ombudsmen as human rights protection mechanisms

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, gave a talk on the role of Ombudsmen in promoting and protecting human rights. This was part of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights Symposium on “Strengthening the fundamental rights architecture in the EU” that took place on May 7, 2010. 

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[Cases] ECJ C-518/07 – Commission v. Germany: How “independent” should independent agencies be?

On March 9, 2010, the European Court of Justice (Grand Chamber) handed down a very interesting judgment regarding the required degree of independence of the authorities responsible for monitoring compliance with Directive 95/46/EC “on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data” (“Data Protection Directive”). The full text of the judgment is available here.  

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[News] Statistics regarding judicial activity in the EU in 2009

The Court of Justice of the European Union issued today a press
release with statistics concerning judicial activity in 2009. The press
release is available here.

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[News] Transparency under the Lisbon Treaty- An interview

Here is a link to a brief interview with Michael Cashman, the British MEP who has been entrusted by the European Parliament with the job of looking at openness and transparency, including access to documents, in the European Union (he describes himself as a "trainspotter for transparency"). At the bottom of the page there are links to texts and developments regarding access to documents in the European Union.

[News] President Obama defends new consumer agency

Washington Post has an article today on President Obama scolding business groups that have fought his plan to create a new federal agency (Consumer Financial Protection Agency) to oversee mortgages, credit cards and other consumer financial products, casting the debate as a battle between his administration and Wall Street.

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