The European Parliament endorses the European Ombudsman's recommendations to increase the transparency of the work of the Council of the EU and make its documents more accessible, in a report on Emily O'Reilly's inquiries in 2018 adopted on Thursday 16 January in Strasbourg (563 votes in favour, 3 against and 63 abstentions).
MEPs call again on the EU Council to "bring its working methods into line with the standards of a parliamentary democracy, as required by the Treaties", and they encourage the European Ombudsman (see EUROPE 12393/7) to continue her inquiry into the transparency of the institution bringing together the Member States, initiated in 2017.
Furthermore, the European Parliament welcomes the new Code of Conduct for Commissioners, which prohibits former Commissioners from lobbying the Commission. However, it believes that "the provisions of the code still need to be strengthened".
MEPs also want the use of the European Citizens' Initiative (see EUROPE 12213/21) and the implementation of its final provisions to continue to be monitored.
In 2018, 17,996 citizens made use of the Ombudsman's services which opened 490 inquiries and closed 545, details a European Parliament press release. Investigations relating to transparency, accountability and public access to information still account for the largest share (20.6%) of the cases handled by the Ombudsman's office.
To consult the report: http://bit.ly/38dSNE5 (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki - intern)