27/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a press release issued on 25 January, the European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, welcomed the European Commission's decision to pay EUR 56000 in compensation to a French journalist (who wishes to remain anonymous) following the breaking of a contract concerning a communications strategies project in relation to the enlargement of the EU. After paying EUR 94584 to co-fund a visit by French journalists to Poland and the Czech Republic, the European Commission suddenly refused to pay, a few weeks ahead of a press visit to France. The Ombudsman's mediation led to reimbursement of costs and damages to the complainant.