Fighting off the competition from Vittorio Bottoli and Pierre-Yves Monette, the bookies' favourite Nikiforos Diamandouros won over a large majority of MEPs during the Strasbourg plenary vote. He will remain the defender of citizens' rights against EU inst

Citizens' rights are safe in the hands of Diamandouros

Elected by MEPs during the plenary   by a large majority,

the new European Ombudsman Nikiforos   Diamandouros will succeed himself.

He was up against Vittorio Bottoli   and Pierre-Yves Monette.

MEPs went for continuity.   Nikiforos Diamandouros

It’s a great honour,   I hope that I can do everything possible

The EU Ombudsman will have the   task of defending EU citizens rights

against administrative abuses in the EU.

Many complaints concern the lack   of institutional transparency.

When institutions are recruiting,   citizens often don’t understand

It’s the same with discrimination   for some recruitment drives,

and then also contracts   between businesses and EU institutions.

Since the Lisbon Treaty, the EU   Ombudsman has more influence.

Now good administration is inscribed   in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Member States will be obliged to observe it.

All these possibilities protect   the rights of European citizens in Europe

and in their homeland, all of this   expands the democratisation of Europe.

In 2008, Diamandouros resolved   80% of the 3400 cases submitted.

The next European ombudsman   will be elected in 2014.