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Sat, 14 Dec, 2013 12:00:38 AM FTimes- Xinhua Report, December 14
The identity of the European Union (EU) is in crisis, European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly warned on Friday.
EU policy makers and civil society should not only focus on economic issues, but also on the EU's identity and legitimacy crisis, O'Reilly said at the closing ceremony of the "European Year of Citizens 2013" in Vilnius, Lithuania.
"We need to keep in mind those values and principles on which the EU was founded, not just the economic ones but also, and more importantly, respect for fundamental rights, the notion of freedom, solidarity, the protection of minorities and respect for cultural and language diversity," she said.
O'Reilly noted that the elections of the European Parliament (EP) in 2014 will be a real opportunity for citizens to make their voices heard at the EU level.
She also said that new office holders elected need to be courageous enough to challenge EU citizens to look beyond their personal and national interests.
O'Reilly also called on EU institutions to become more transparent and accountable for people's concerns and do more to counter the suspicion that some senior officials are far too close to certain business interests.
With a view to the upcoming changes in the European Parliament and the European Commission, she voiced her concern that many senior people may leave EU positions and take up lucrative private sector employment without adequate scrutiny.
"Our EU institutions must behave impeccably and be seen to resist the temptation towards arrogance and self-serving behavior," O'Reilly said,"Given the perceived lack of political legitimacy, the EU itself must be seen to be the "gold standard' in these areas."
O'Reilly became the first female European Ombudsman in October, taking over from Nikiforos Diamandouros, who has been in office for a decade.
Established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, the European Ombudsman has been tasked with investigating citizens'complaints on maladministration of EU institutions, including the lack of transparency and refusal to provide information.
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