Why I am supporting Diamandouros

5.08.14pm GMT Wed 9th Dec 2009

Commenting on the coming election of the post of EU Ombudsman, Diana Wallis MEP, a member of the Parliament's Petitions Committee, said in Brussels today:

"What I look for in the appointment of the EU Ombudsman foremost is a commitment in the job. I look for someone who puts citizens first by providing a good service to citizens who come with problems.

"In any election the incumbent clearly has an advantage unless they have done something stupid. In my opinion, the current Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, has done a good job and built up a network with Ombudsmen and national mediators across the EU and worked extremely well with them. Also I think he has done some excellent work across the EU institutions. It would be difficult to throw away that experience in this election. That is why I am supporting him to continue in the role.

"I would like to see even greater transparency across the all EU institutions and the Ombudsman is central to achieving that. I have urged Mr Diamandorous to take the transparency agenda even further."

Along with Nikiforos Diamandouros, the other candidates are Vittorio Bottoli and Pierre-Yves Monette. The three candidates for the position of EU Ombudsman answered MEPs' questions at a hearing held by the Petitions committee on Monday, 30 November. The Ombudsman is elected by the European Parliament by secret ballot at the start of each parliamentary term. The next Ombudsman will be elected in January 2010.