European ombudsman and EESC share concerns about transparency in the EU

Excessive use of trilogues, limited use of ECIs and lack of transparency at higher levels of EU administration are especially worrisome, EESC members tell ombudsman

The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is an important piece of the decision-making process in Europe, ensuring that decisions are taken with merit and adding a special value to European legislation, the European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly said on Wednesday.

Addressing the EESC plenary, where she discussed her work and activities with the EESC members, O'Reilly said the ombudsman and the EESC shared "a privilege of this vital closeness to citizens".

"We both can listen to citizens' concerns and we are able to communicate them to other institutions," she said.

The European ombudsman, appointed by the European Parliament, investigates complaints against EU institutions, bodies and agencies that every EU citizen can file.

Ms O'Reilly said her office mostly dealt with cases relating to transparency, culture of service, infringement procedures, conflict of interest, respect of fundamental rights and other issues.  The majority of complaints in 2016 referred to concerns about transparency in the EU administration such as, for example, refusal of access to documents.

The EESC members said they shared the ombudsman's concerns, notably about transparency and maladministration. They said they were particularly worried about the excessive use of trilogues in legislative procedure, during which the representatives of the EP, EC and the Council seek to find a compromise or a common position.

"More than 80% of EU legislation is still done through trilogues," said Ms Gabrielle Bischoff, President of the EESC Workers' Group.  She asked the ombudsman to take action to limit their use. Ms O'Reilly said she had called for them to be made more transparent through setting up a "register" or a joint database where all relevant information about trilogues would be published.

Some EESC members expressed indignation at issues like the case of the former Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who had taken a post with Goldman Sachs Bank after his mandate came to an end. "This is a question of ethics. I know this has caused some discomfort in society, especially in Portugal," stated Mr Jorge Pegado Liz, member of the Various Interests Group.

Ms O'Reilly said she had intervened in the case and also opened an investigation into how the Commission had dealt with five cases similar to Barroso's.

Another issue high on the agenda was the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), which allows citizens to propose a new policy to the Commission. The EESC members voiced disappointment with the way Member States and the EU administration approached the ECI and with attempts to limit its use.

"I want to applaud the EESC for keeping the spotlight on that very important issue", O'Reilly said. She admitted the ECI had not been a success story so far but it was crucial that it receive political backing.

"The ECI is an instrument of a citizen-friendly EU. But you need political champions for it to work. Unless you have political commitment coming from the Member States and the top of the EU institutions, it is going to be a project that has not lived up to its promise," O'Reilly said.