Brussels, 20/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 19 June, European Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros published a series of principles for public service to serve as guiding principles for European officials. Such principles were developed on the basis of member states' best practice and come further to consultation with the European Ombudsman network. Diamandouros thus set out five principles intended to reinforce trust between citizens and the European Union at a time when the European Union is facing a severe crisis, he said. The principles set out are: commitment to the EU and its citizens, integrity, objectivity, respect for others, and transparency. Diamandouros said these embody fundamental ethical standards and are a vital component in the make up of the European Union institutions' culture of service. (EL/transl.jl)