The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has welcomed the Commission's Green Paper on the European Transparency Initiative, presented today. "One quarter of the inquiries I carry out concerns lack of transparency. I therefore strongly support all measures which promote a more open and accountable EU administration. The Commission is right when it says that 'the European public is entitled to expect efficient, accountable and service-minded public institutions'. I trust that the debate launched by today's Green Paper will move us further in this direction".

Among the issues of particular interest to the Ombudsman in today's Green Paper are the ideas put forward in the area of mandatory disclosure of information concerning the beneficiaries of EU funds and the Commission's minimum standards of consultation. "Over the past year, I have dealt with several complaints in these areas, including two on the lack of transparency regarding beneficiaries of EU agricultural funds", said Mr Diamandouros. "I am therefore particularly encouraged by the Commission's efforts to make data on beneficiaries of EU funds more accessible".

"As I mentioned in the presentation of my Annual Report 2005 to the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions this morning," added Mr Diamandouros, "working openly and allowing for public scrutiny are among the all important means to building trust among citizens. I look forward to following the reactions to this Green Paper and to working with the institutions and bodies to make for a top-class EU administration capable of fully subscribing to the service culture that places the citizen at the very centre of its concerns."

The Commission's consultation on this Green Paper ends on 31 August 2006.

The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions and bodies. Any EU citizen, resident, or an enterprise or association in a Member State, can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman offers a fast, flexible and free means of solving problems with the EU administration. For more information: http://ombudsman.europa.eu

For press inquiries: Ms Gundi Gadesmann, Press Officer, tel: +32 2 284 2609

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