GREECE | 15th anniversary of the Greek Ombudsman

On 12 and 13 November in Athens, the Greek Ombudsman celebrated the 15^th anniversary of the institution, at a symposium held at the Auditorium of the Acropolis Museum with the support of the Council of Europe.

The symposium addressed aspects of the Ombudsman in the constitutional system - institutional counterweights and balance of powers, mediation and good governance, the ombudsman as a catalyst for administrative reform, rule of law and human rights and the state-citizens relations in a time of crisis.

The work and achievements of the Greek Ombudsman throughout the 15 years of presence were unfolded by the first Greek Ombudsman and vice European Ombudsman, Prof. Nikoforos Diamantouros, his successor at the Greek Ombudsman and current Mayor of Athens, Yorgos Kaminis, and the present Ombudsman Calliope Spanou.

The Ombudsmen of Belgium, The Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia and Turkey recounted experience and knowledge from their institutions. Representatives of the Council of Europe and FRA, senior judges, academics, Deputy Ombudsmen, senior investigators and journalists also addressed the symposium.

According to Calliope Spanou “the challenge for the Greek Ombudsman from 1998 until today, is to mark a new state-citizen relationship and a new public administration, in ethos, style and responsiveness to citizens' needs. This effort continues.”

Source: Greek Ombudsman