The guarantees that must govern the action of the new European Ombudsman, were highlighted by the New Democracy and EPP MEP, Fredi Beleris, during his intervention in the debate held at the plenary session of the European Parliament on “Activities of the European Ombudsman – Annual Report for 2023”.

Beleris pointed out that the European Ombudsman should “not discount issues of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, even when these concern states on the path to accession. There can be no discounts on these issues”, adding that “in my own adventure, unfortunately, this sensitivity has never appeared”.

He then stressed that “secondly, not to succumb to pressures based on uncontrolled rightism and not to be instrumentalized in the name of Civil Society. Especially in the illegal immigration issue, this has happened to a great extent. It must not be repeated.”

The MEP for the New Democracy and the EPP added that: “so far, what we have seen is a targeting of specific member states, with legal pretexts and without substantial evidence”.

“As an institution, therefore, the European Ombudsman must act in accordance with its mandate,” he concluded.