Brussels, 18/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 18 July, European Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros welcomed the European Commission's announcement that it is to review its “Early Warning System” (EWS). The EWS consists of a database containing the names of persons or companies deemed to pose a threat to the financial interests of the European Union. The review covers changes aimed at ensuring that the operation of the EWS respects fundamental rights, such as the right to be heard.
The EWS allows EU officials to check, among other things, whether participants in an EU call for tenders are suspected of fraud. The EU administration may block or suspend contracts or payments, if the person or company concerned is listed on the EWS.
The Ombudsman received several complaints about the operation of the EWS. After an inquiry, he found that individuals and companies are not systematically informed about their inclusion on the EWS. The Ombudsman called on the Commission to guarantee the rights of persons or companies to be heard before they are included on the EWS. In addition, he asked the Commission to respect the right of access to the file and to ensure that it informs persons of their rights to complain to the Ombudsman or to go to court. In its reply to the Ombudsman's recommendation, the Commission announced that it intends to revise the EWS in 2013. It has promised to take into account both the Ombudsman's findings, as well as the outcome of an ongoing court case about the EWS (“the Planet case”). (LC/transl.rt)