New Ombudsman spells out objectives

Date: 10/04/03

NIKIFOROS Diamandouros, the new European Ombudsman, has spelled out three main objectives for his term:

• To live up to the "expectations" of his predecessor, Jacob Söderman;
• to lead the institution through the enlargement process, and;
• to educate citizens about how to exercise their rights.

The former national ombudsman for Greece also said he wanted to see the code of public administration and Charter of Fundamental Rights become legally binding.

Diamandouros, a former political science lecturer, was sworn in last week at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

Nikiforos Diamandouros, the new European Ombudsman, has spelled out the main objectives for his term.