Six candidates faced the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee to win support for the EU Ombudsman position. Representing Austria, Portugal, Estonia, the Netherlands, and Italy, they aimed to replace Emily O’Reilly, who has led investigations into EU maladministration for over a decade.
The candidates presented varied ideas during their hearings. The Netherlands’ Reinier van Zutphen highlighted the ombudsman’s role in addressing citizens’ concerns about EU policies. Portugal’s Teresa Anjinho advocated updating the EU’s freedom of information law, while Italy’s Marino Fardelli proposed a smartphone app for citizens to track cases and suggested granting the ombudsman sanction powers.
Despite some creative pitches, policy commitments remained scarce. Most candidates emphasized continuity with O’Reilly’s tenure, praised by MEPs for her accomplishments. Discussions focused more on managing individual complaints rather than legislative changes. Attempts to draw candidates into controversies, like vaccine contract negotiations with Pfizer, were mostly avoided.
Diverse Backgrounds, Shared Goals
Candidates offered a mix of experience. Van Zutphen, Anjinho, and Fardelli have national ombudsman roles, while others bring unique perspectives. Italy’s Emilio De Capitani cited 25 years in EU parliamentary administration and transparency advocacy. Estonia’s Julia Laffranque, a Supreme Court justice, emphasized her work with the EU anti-fraud office. Austria’s Claudia Mahler, a UN advisor, framed her lack of EU experience as a fresh perspective.
While political neutrality is expected, politics inevitably plays a role. Candidates must secure support from Parliament’s political groups. Some, like Laffranque, claim cross-party appeal. Others, like Anjinho, faced scrutiny over past political affiliations but stressed impartiality and professional achievements.
The hearings, conducted primarily in English, revealed the candidates’ fluency in EU legal jargon. However, as Laffranque noted, the ombudsman’s role is also to bridge the gap between EU institutions and ordinary citizens. The next ombudsman will face the challenge of making that connection meaningful while navigating the complexities of EU governance.