Ombudsman urges appropriate Brexit transparency

The European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly, asked the European Commission in March 2017 to set out the arrangements that it planned to put in place to ensure transparency and to secure appropriate stakeholder input during the forthcoming Brexit negotiations. These should cover the types of information and documents the Commission intended to publish - including the timeline for negotiations and reports on negotiating rounds - and when.

The Ombudsman also suggested that the Commission detailed how it intended to receive input from stakeholders throughout the process and to make it clear from the outset that this input will normally be published.

In a letter to European Commission President Juncker the Ombudsman also noted that many questions about EU citizens’ rights may come to her office through the European Network of Ombudsmen.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Briefing, 2016: Article 50 TEU: Withdrawal of a Member State from the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/article-50-teu-withdrawal-of-a-member-state-from-the-eu/

Politico, 02.03.17: EU watchdog pushes for transparent Brexit http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-watchdog-pushes-for-transparent-brexit-deal/

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