European Ombudsman - Annual Report 2016

In 2016, the Ombudsman helped 15 797 citizens and opened 245 inquiries. Concerns about lack of transparency in the EU administration accounted for the biggest proportion of the cases. The year also saw the Ombudsman open strategic inquiries and initiatives into key issues, such as how the Commission carries out conflict of interest assessments for its Special Advisers and how the Commission handles Commissioners’ post-mandate jobs. The first European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration was launched (attracting 90 nominations) and the first European Network of Ombudsmen conference in Brussels focused on Ombudsmen cooperation in the areas of migration, lobbying transparency and the rule of law.