Annual report 2002 - EOI

DECISIONS FOLLOWING AN INQUIRY 207
THE DECISION
1 Language used by CEDEFOP in its opinions on complaints
1.1 The Ombudsman requested CEDEFOP to inform him whether it had given, or
planned to give, instructions to its staff as to the appropriate way of replying to complaints
from European citizens, in accordance with CEDEFOP’s Code of Good Administrative
Behaviour of 15 December 1999. This was based on the fact that the Ombudsman noted
that several of CEDEFOP’s opinions (in cases 466/2000/OV, 705/2000/OV and
1206/2000/BB) seemed not to be in accordance with the principle of courtesy contained
in Article 12 of the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour of CEDEFOP.
1.2 In its opinion, CEDEFOP regretted the language it had used in those opinions, stating
that it was used in internal correspondence with the Ombudsman’s office and that it had
not anticipated that this correspondence would be published.
1.3 The Bureau of CEDEFOP however invited the Director to take appropriate measures
and give instructions to his staff so as to avoid any repetition of inappropriate wording
when replying to complaints in the future. CEDEFOP will also closely monitor the
language used in its opinions in order to ensure strict respect of its Code of Good
Administrative Behaviour. Also, in the event of any future complaints, it will publicise
summaries of its answers on its web-site.
1.4 The Ombudsman is glad that CEDEFOP encourages its staff to be candid in their
dealings with the Ombudsman’s office, and not to adopt a legalistic and bureaucratic
approach. The Ombudsman understands that CEDEFOP will continue to do so, whilst
ensuring that proper language is used.
1.5 From its opinion on the Ombudsman’s inquiry, it appears that CEDEFOP will take the
necessary measures, including instructions to its staff, in order to reply in an appropriate
way to complaints from citizens. The Ombudsman therefore considers that no further
inquiries into this matter appear to be necessary.
2 Conclusion
On the basis of the Ombudsman’s inquiries, there appears to have been no maladministration
by CEDEFOP. The Ombudsman therefore closes the case.
3.7.3 All
Community
institutions and
bodies and
decentralised
agencies
OWN INITIATIVE
INQUIRY ON AGE
LIMITS
Decision in own
initiative inquiry
OI/2/2001/(BB)OV
On 30 April 2001, the Ombudsman started an own initiative inquiry into the limitation of
the citizen’s right to work, through the imposition of age limits for recruitment to the
Community institutions and bodies. This own initiative inquiry concerned all Community
institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies.
THE INQUIRY
The reasons for the inquiry
On 7 December 2000, in Nice, the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council and
the Commission jointly proclaimed the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European
Union 108 . The European Council welcomed the joint proclamation, noting that the Charter
combines in a single text the civil, political, economic, social and societal rights hitherto
laid down in a variety of international, European or national sources 109 .
108
109
OJ 2000 C 364/1.
Presidency Conclusions, Nice European Council meeting, 7 , 8 and 9 December 2000, paragraph 2.