Annual report 2002 - EOI

66 ANNUAL REPORT | 2002
3.3 The Ombudsman considers that the Commission has taken steps in order to settle the
matter as concerns this aspect of the case.
4 Conclusion
It appears from the Commission’s opinion and the complainant’s observations that the
European Commission has taken steps to settle the matter and has thereby satisfied the
complainant. The Ombudsman therefore closes the case.
THE COMMISSION
PUTS AN END TO
UNPAID
TRAINEESHIPS
Decision on complaint
1456/2001/ADB
against the European
Commission
THE COMPLAINT
The complainant was a student who applied for a traineeship at the European Commission.
The Commission offered him an unpaid traineeship. Given that he had no income, he had
to face a difficult choice. Either accepting the offer with its consequences on his daily life,
or refusing this important opportunity because of his limited financial resources. Hence he
complained to the Ombudsman and alleged that the Commission’s offering unpaid traineeships
constituted a discrimination against applicants with limited financial resources;
especially because the number of unpaid traineeships represented only a small part of all
the traineeships offered by the Commission.
The complainant claimed that the Commission should reconsider its position towards his
personal situation.
THE INQUIRY
The European Commission’s opinion
Since 1997, the Commission progressively increased its appropriations for traineeships in
order to pay the highest possible number of trainees. The Commission informed the
Ombudsman that from March 2002 onwards all recruited trainees shall be paid.
In 2001, 97% out of 1200 trainees were offered paid traineeships. Trainees who accepted
an unpaid traineeship however benefited from funds available further to late arrivals or
early departures of paid trainees. In the complainant’s case, the Commission was able to
pay him a full five-month grant for his five-month traineeship.
THE DECISION
It appears from the Commission’s comments that the European Commission has taken
steps to settle the matter. The Ombudsman therefore closes the case.
ALLEGED FAILURE
TO PAY THE LAST
SECTION OF
FINANCIAL AID AS
AGREED UPON
Decision on complaint
108/2002/OV
(Confidential) against
the European
Commission
THE COMPLAINT
In January 2002, Mr X made a complaint to the European Ombudsman on behalf of a
French regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry (hereafter “the complainant”)
concerning the Commission’s financial aid to the operation M. under the ECIP (European
Community Investment Partners) programme. According to the complainant the relevant
facts were as follows:
On 1 December 1997 the complainant made a request for financial aid to the Commission
for a budget of 170 000 € for the operation M. - ECIP. This operation started in January
1998. In a letter of 21 January 1998, the Commission accepted the request for financial
help for an amount of 85 000 €. The principal mission was carried out in April 1998. On
10 July 1998, the Commission sent the Financial Contract, confirming a financial aid of
85 000 €.