Recommendation 2163 (2019)

Ombudsman institutions in Europe – The need for a set of common standards

Author(s): Parliamentary Assembly

Origin - Assembly debate on 2 October 2019 (31st Sitting) (see Doc. 14953, report of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, rapporteur: Lord Richard Balfe). Text adopted by the Assembly on 2 October 2019 (31st Sitting).

1. Referring to its Resolution 2301 (2019) on “Ombudsman institutions in Europe – The need for a set of common standards”, the Parliamentary Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

1.1. take all necessary measures to promote the Principles on the Protection and Promotion of the Ombudsman Institution (the Venice Principles) and their implementation by member States of the Council of Europe;

1.2. consider establishing a mechanism of appropriate composition and mandate to which Council of Europe member States could regularly report on the situation and activities of their ombudsman institutions, including the state of implementation of the Venice Principles;

1.3. condemn any attack or threat against ombudsman institutions coming from the authorities of a Council of Europe member State;

1.4. streamline its work in relation to the activities of ombudsman institutions through better co-ordination with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and the Assembly itself;

1.5. adopt without delay the draft recommendation on the development of the ombudsman institution, ensuring its compliance with the Venice Principles;

1.6. continue its co-operation in this field with other international organisations, in particular the European Union, the United Nations and international associations of ombudsman institutions such as the International Ombudsman Institute.