Press Release: Ombudsman criticises age discrimination by the Commission

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, criticised the European Commission's discrimination against freelance interpreters who are older than 65. This follows a complaint from an interpreter who stopped receiving job offers after he turned 65, although he wanted to continue working.

The Ombudsman made a proposal for a friendly solution in which he asked the Commission to abandon this discriminatory policy. He also suggested that the Commission compensate the complainant. The Commission rejected his proposals. The Ombudsman sent a special report to the European Parliament (EP) asking it to support his position.