Annual report 2002 - EOI

PUBLIC RELATIONS 251
Later that day, Mr SÖDERMAN met a high level delegation of the Nordic Council, headed
by its President Mrs Outi OJALA. Hosted by the Finnish Ambassador to the Council of
Europe, Mr Erkki KOURULA, the meeting also included the following members of
Nordic Parliaments: MP Mrs Riitta PRUSTI, Finland; Mrs Rannveig GUDMUNDS-
DOTTIR, Mrs Sigridur A. THORDARDOTTIR, Mr Steingrimur J. SIGFUSSON, Iceland;
Mr Ole STAVAD, Danemark; Mrs Anita JOHANSSON, Sweden; and Mrs Frida
NOKKEN, the Nordic Council’s Secretary General.
Also on 15 May, Ms Maria MADRID gave a talk in Brussels on the role and functions of
the European Ombudsman to a group of 14 students of the Technische Universität Berlin
who participate in the project “fit für Europa”, which is destined to train future EUlecturers
and is supported by the European Social Fund.
On 10 June, Mr Gerhard GRILL gave a lecture on the role and the work of the European
Ombudsman to some 40 local councillors from Ebersberg (Bavaria) who had come at the
invitation of MEP Dr. Angelika NIEBLER.
On the same day, Mr Gerhard GRILL also lectured to a group of 28 pupils of the Staatliche
Berufsschule Landsberg am Lech (Bavaria) guided by Mr Franz GRAF as well as to 16
participants of a study tour organised by the BDÖ – Bildungswerk für Demokratie, soziale
Politik und Öffentlichkeit (Düsseldorf). The latter group was led by Mrs Wiltraud
TERLINDEN from the BDÖ.
On 12 June, Mr Gerhard GRILL gave a lecture on the role and the work of the European
Ombudsman to some 30 citizens from Germany. The group was accompanied by Dr.
Rüdiger FREY of the Bildungswerk Sachsen of the Deutsche Gesellschaft e.V.
On 13 June, Mr Gerhard GRILL gave a lecture on the role and the work of the European
Ombudsman to some 30 Lehramtsanwärter (trainee teachers) from Bavaria. The group
was accompanied by Mrs Alke BÜTTNER from the Europäische Akademie Bayern.
On 14 June, Mr SÖDERMAN received the visit of a group of chartered accountants
belonging to the KHT institution in Finland. Mr SÖDERMAN gave a lecture on the role
and activities of the European Ombudsman and responded to questions from the audience.
Headed by its chairman, Mr Joukko ILOLA, the group requested this meeting in the
framework of a visit during the June Plenary Session of the European Parliament. The
meeting took place at the European Ombudsman’s office in Strasbourg.
On 2 July, Mr Gerhard GRILL gave a lecture on the role and the work of the European
Ombudsman to the 20 participants of a seminar on European issues organised by the
Arbeitnehmer-Zentrum Königswinter (AZK). The participants were accompanied by Mrs
Angelika HECKER of Fit for Europe - Kommunikation – Moderation.
On 10 July, Mr SÖDERMAN had a meeting with Mr Michael EFLER, member of the
National Board of the German citizens movement Mehr Demokratie e.V. (More
Democracy). Mr EFLER explained his organisation’s work for direct democracy
(Initiative & Referendum), representative democracy, and their proposals for national
referenda regarding the European Integration Process. He also presented a paper entitled
“More democracy in Europe”. The meeting was held at the Ombudsman’s office in
Brussels.
On 11 July, Mr SÖDERMAN gave a lecture to a group of Polish students who were paying
a visit to the European institutions in Brussels within the framework of a programme entitled
“Be a Negotiator! - Simulation of Poland-EU Negotiations on Accession”. The group
was headed by Mrs Katarzyna MORAWSKA, European Programme Coordinator. The
conference took place at the premises of the European Ombudsman in Brussels.