Strasbourg, 22/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - After withdrawal of the candidature of Danish national Ole Krarup (GUE/NGL), the EP Committee on Petitions noted that seven candidates meet the condition of admissibility for designation of the next European Ombudsman to succeed Jacob Söderman for the rest of his term of office. Out of the eighteen applications, ten had not received sufficient signatures from MEPs. Hearings will be held for the seven remaining candidates by the Committee on Petitions on 25 and 26 November. The vote in plenary will be held during the December plenary in Strasbourg. Candidates are: former Greek Vice-President (EPP) of the Parliament, Georgios Anastassopoulos; - current Greek Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros; - regional ombudsman for Campania (Italy) Giuseppe Fortunato; - former ombudsman of the Spanish Basque region, Xabier Markiegi; - the French-speaking Belgian Federal ombudsman Pierre-Yves Monette; - MEP Roy Perry (British Conservative); - and Flemish speaking Belgian Federal ombudsman, Herman Wuyts (aged 60).