Annual report 2002 - EOI

PUBLIC RELATIONS 243
Munich. The Ombudsman subsequently gave a talk on his work to students and
researchers at the University of Munich. On 5 November, the European Ombudsman
presented his work to a gathering of experts and interested persons from institutions,
Mr Söderman and Mr Grill with the speaker of the Landtag of Bavaria, Mr Johann Böhm and
Ms Anja Richter of the European Parliament’s information office in Munich.
groups and associations at the European Patent Office. Mr SÖDERMAN then went to the
Bavarian Landtag where he presented his work to the members of the Landtag’s
committee on petitions at their regular meeting and answered questions from members of
the committee. A discussion with the speaker of the Landtag, Mr Johann BÖHM, marked
the end of the European Ombudsman’s visit to Munich.
AUSTRIA
Vienna
On 18 April, Mr Gerhard GRILL gave a lecture on the Charter of Fundamental Rights of
the EU at the ‘Enquête Erweitertes Grundrechtsverständnis’ organised by the Austrian
Institute for Human Rights and the Volksanwaltschaft in Vienna. Among the other
speakers were Professor Dr. Franz MATSCHER, Director of the Austrian Institute of
Human Rights, Professor Dr. Rudolf STREINZ from the University of Bayreuth,
Professor Dr. Mark VILLIGER from the University of Zurich and Professor Dr. Thilo
MARAUHN from the University of Giessen.
FINLAND
Helsinki
On 14 May, Mr SÖDERMAN presented a paper on “Good administration as a fundamental
right” to the Finnish fractions of the Nordic Administrative Associations in the
framework of their 80th anniversary, in Helsinki. Among the large audience was a delegation
of guests from the other nordic countries as well as the Presidents of the Supreme
Court Mr Leif SEVÓN and the Supreme Administrative Court Mr Pekka HALLBERG as
well as the Chancellor of Justice Mr Paavo NIKULA.
On 10 June, Mr SÖDERMAN attended a seminar to commemorate the 130th Anniversary
of the Finnish Parliamentary Library. The European Ombudsman’s intervention was
centered on openness and information principles in the European Union. The audience