Where the law stands, Dossier 2024/2056(INI)
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023
Own-initiative report (INI): Parliament’s own position on a topic. It is not binding. · First reading
Parliament sets out its own position on a topic. The resolution is not binding but signals what Parliament wants.
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 17 December 2024. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done) 10 October 2024
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 14 November 2024
- Tabled for plenary(done) 21 November 2024
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 17 December 2024
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
17 December 2024 · decision 7
EU institutions & Parliament, Resolution
Activities of the European Ombudsman – annual report 2023
Adopted 598 for · 17 against · 37 abstained by an overwhelming majority
AI summary:The resolution supports the Ombudsman's work, including inquiries into maladministration, and calls for improved transparency and accountability in EU institutions.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:The adopted text drops a reference to local residents' rights and adds support for expanding the Ombudsman network to candidate countries. The other changes are formal: decimal commas replace points and a regulation number gains 'EC'.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The report expands on transparency and access to documents, adding calls for reform and extending scope to all EU institutions. It strengthens ethics and accountability provisions, including on lobbying, conflicts of interest, and implementation of reforms after Qatargate. It adds new paragraphs on accessibility for persons with disabilities and on the Ombudsman's acceptance rate, and stresses rights of local residents. It updates language on migration-related actions and recruitment procedures, and adds encouragement for civil society and cooperation with the Petitions Committee. The other changes are formal or wording: updated statistics format, rephrased sentences, and minor terminology adjustments.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Petitions
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Alex Agius Saliba (S&D)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Peter Agius (EPP), Virginie Joron (Patriots), Kosma Złotowski (ECR), Jana Toom (Renew), Gordan Bosanac (Greens), Nikos Pappas (The Left)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 17 Dec 2024
AI summary:Parliament approves the European Ombudsman's 2023 annual report and praises the Ombudsman's work. It calls on the Commission to fix systemic delays in handling public access to documents and to improve transparency.
Tabled for plenary· 21 Nov 2024
AI summary:Parliament approves the European Ombudsman's 2023 annual report and commends Emily O'Reilly's work. It calls on the Commission to fix systemic delays in handling public access to documents requests and to respect deadlines under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.
Committee draft· 12 Sept 2024
AI summary:The draft report approves the European Ombudsman's 2023 annual report and commends her work. It addresses systemic delays in the Commission's handling of public access to documents requests, which the Ombudsman found to be maladministration, and urges the Council to negotiate on revising Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 4 steps
17 December 2024
Plenary vote
Sitting of 17 Dec 2024 Report A10-0016/2024Adopted text TA10-0063/2024
16 December 2024
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
10 December – 11 December 2024
7 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
21 November 2024
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 4 steps
14 November 2024
Committee vote: report adopted
PETI (Petitions) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
10 October 2024
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of PETI (Petitions) proposed changes to the draft.
10 October 2024
Referred to the PETI (Petitions) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
12 September 2024
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in PETI (Petitions). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2024/2056(INI)