Brussels, 11/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - Since Jacob Söderman has announced that he is planning to step down as European Ombudsman in the spring of next year, the European Parliament has just opened the procedure to select a new European Ombudsman. A call for applications was published in Official Journal C213 of 7 September, explaining that candidates have to be EU citizens with full civil and political rights, fully guarantee independence and meet the conditions set in their country for exercising the highest legal functions or have notable experience and skills for carrying out the tasks of a Ombudsman. Applications have to be endorsed by at least thirty-two MEPs and include a formal pledge by the application to not carry out any other professional activity (paid or unpaid) during their time as Ombudsman, if selected. Applications have to be sent to the President of the European Parliament before 3 October 2002, who will forward them to the EP's Petitions Committee, which will check whether all the criteria have been met and will organise interviews. The Petitions Committee will provide the plenary with an alphabetical list of acceptable candidates. The EP will vote on the list in plenary in December or January.