Strasbourg, 05/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, has just made a review of the own initiative investigation he launched in May on age limits in the recruitment procedures of the European Institutions. He notes in a press release that the European Parliament, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions have not yet replied to his letter, ignoring the 31 July 2001 deadline. The Commission pledged to abolish age limits on 1 July 2001, but it is still publishing competition notices with age limits. Mr Söderman remarks that thirteen European Union Institutions and bodies do not impose age limits and therefore respect the principles of equality, the value of lifelong learning and the value of professional competence and personal experience, along with Articles 15 (the right to work) and 21 (outlawing age discrimination) of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Five Institutions and bodies still impose age limits - the Court of Justice; the Court of Auditors; the Council; the Economic and Social Committee; and the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market. Their secretary generals feel that imposing age limits is justified for good financial management reasons. They also argue that young workers are more productive and flexible, want to travel more and are less likely to be absent from their work, signals the press release, which points out that the European Ombudsman wants to ensure that the rights evoked in the Charter of Fundamental Rights become a reality for all European citizens. He will now examine the reasons put forward by the small number of Institutions to check whether they have a legal basis.