During the plenary session (16-19 December 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs elect the European Ombudsman for a five-year mandate. The Ombudsman conducts inquiries into cases of maladministration by EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, acting on their own initiative or on the basis of complaints from EU citizens. Five candidates are running for the post and Emily O'REILLY is re-elected. Statements by Phil HOGAN, European Commissioner for Trade.

Strasbourg

plenary session

vote

HOGAN, Phil (IE, EC)

O'REILLY, Emily (IE)

election of the European Ombudsman (T)

Election of the European Ombudsman: extracts from the second ballot and third ballot

EP President David Sassoli opens the vote on the second ballot on the election of the European Ombudsman and announcing the withdrawal Nils Muižnieks&rsquo; (Latvia) and that the candidates now are Giuseppe Fortunato (Italy), Julia Laffranque (Estonia), Emily O&rsquo;Reilly (Ireland) and Cecilia Wikstr&ouml;m (Sweden) andthen announces that the vote is open.

Sign showing the results of the vote 2nd ballot: Number of votes cast: Members voting 694, blank 56, votes cast 638, absolute majority 320. 

EP President David Sassoli announcing that the vote is closed and the results of the vote

EP President David Sassoli opens the vote on the third ballot between the two leading candidates: Emily O'Reilly and Julia Laffranque

Sign showing the results of the vote 2nd ballot: Emily O'Reilly 291 Julia Laffranque 251 Giuseppe Fortunato 58 Cecilia Wikstrom 38 No-one has obtained absolute majority.

EP President David Sassoli announces that vote is closed and that Emily O'Reilly got 320 and Julia Laffranque 280 votes. Applause.

Signa showing number of votes cast: Members voting 694 Blank 94 Votes cast 600

Sign showing the results of the vote: Emily O'Reilly 320 Julia Laffranque 280

EP President David Sassoli proclaims that Emily O'Reilly is elected and congratulates her, and say he will sign the act

SOUNDBITE (English), Phil HOGAN, European Commissioner for Trade, Dear Miss O'Reilly, I would like to wholeheartedly congratulate you on your election today. It is a very impressive sign of trust and confidence of the European Parliament and a recognition of your excellent work over the last number of years. The Ombudsman has become a very important pillar of the EU's institutional architecture since its first election in 1995. And the ombudsman's role as a facilitator and a mediator for the citizens and the administration deserves all our full support.

SOUNDBITE (English), Phil HOGAN, European Commissioner for Trade,  Actually, too few people realize this, but only 5 percent of the cases end up with a finding of maladministration and that in more than 70 percent of the cases, the commission follows the proposals of the ombudsman.

SOUNDBITE (English), Phil HOGAN, European Commissioner for Trade,  The European Union and the institutions care about people's needs and problems and do everything we can to address these problems in a concrete way. So, Miss O'Reilly, once again, let me wish you all of the best in your new mandate and the commission and I personally look forward to our future cooperation.