EU "cohesion" policy: Ombudsman investigates protection of fundamental rights
21 May 2014 10:38 AM
The European Ombudsman, Emily
O'Reilly, has opened an
investigation on her own initiative into respect for fundamental rights in the
EU's "cohesion" policy. The Ombudsman has received many
complaints in this area, for example about problems small businesses face when
accessing EU funds, or from applicants for EU projects who allege
discrimination. The Ombudsman's investigation focuses on the
Commission's role in ensuring that EU funding is used in ways that comply
with the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
Emily O'Reilly commented: "It is key for
the credibility of the European Union that, wherever EU money is spent,
fundamental rights are respected. In many cases, these funds are supposed to
help the most vulnerable members of society. But if, for example, there are
complaints that EU money is used to "institutionalise" persons with
disabilities instead of helping to integrate them, the Commission clearly needs
to ensure the matter is investigated and corrective action taken if
needed."
Questions
about the implementation of the EU's 2014-2020 cohesion
policy
The EU's cohesion policy aims
at creating growth and jobs,
tackling climate change and energy dependence, and reducing poverty and social
exclusion with the help of the "European Structural and Investment
Funds". These funds support the less developed regions in the EU and are
managed jointly by the European Commission and the Member States. With more
than 350 billion euros for 2014-2020, they represent over one third of the
EU's budget.
The Ombudsman's investigation asks a detailed
set of questions to find out how the Commission ensures that its partners in
the Member States respect fundamental rights, how it imposes sanctions when
necessary, and how complaints are being dealt with. She has asked the
Commission to reply to her questions by 30 September 2014:http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/cases/correspondence.faces/en/54419/htm
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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://www.ombudsman.europa.eu
For press
inquiries: Ms Gundi Gadesmann, Deputy Head of the Communication Unit,
tel.: +32 2 284 26 09, Twitter @EUombudsman