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<h2 lang="en">The European Ombudsman's language policy</h2></div><div class="gmail-boxBody"><form id="gmail-j_id373" name="j_id373" method="post" action="/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded">
<div class="gmail-docLanguageNav">Available languages: <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/bg/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">bg</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/es/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">es</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/cs/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">cs</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/da/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">da</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/de/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">de</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/et/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">et</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/el/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">el</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><span title="English" class="gmail-currentLang">en</span><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/fr/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">fr</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/ga/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">ga</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/hr/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">hr</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/it/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">it</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/lv/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">lv</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/lt/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">lt</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/hu/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">hu</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/mt/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">mt</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/nl/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">nl</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/pl/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">pl</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/pt/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">pt</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/ro/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">ro</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/sk/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">sk</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/sl/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">sl</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/fi/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">fi</a><span class="gmail-spacebetweenpoint">.</span><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/sv/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990">sv</a>
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<div lang="en"><p>The European Ombudsman is firmly committed to the
principle of multilingualism because cultural and linguistic diversity
is one of the greatest assets of the European Union. The Ombudsman acts
as a bridge between the European public and the EU in ensuring that the
EU institutions adhere to the highest ethical, administrative and
transparency standards. Addressing citizens in their own language is key
in making the EU more accessible and accountable which in turn is
essential for the success of the EU’s democratic system. Without
multilingualism, European citizens cannot participate in the
decision-making process of the EU which is one of their democratic
rights.</p><p>The European Ombudsman tries to find a pragmatic balance
between the principle of multilingualism and her obligation to use her
limited resources in the most effective way. Where justified, the
Ombudsman may decide to publish certain documents in a limited number of
languages.</p><p>The following overview explains the rationale of the
Ombudsman's language choices as regards her most important
communications and publications.</p><h4>Communications with complainants and the public</h4><p>Every
EU citizen or resident has the right to use any of the 24 official
languages in correspondence with the EU institutions, which have to
reply in the same language. This principle applies to contacts with the
European Ombudsman as well. All complaints, requests for information and
any other requests may be sent and will be answered in any of the
official EU languages.</p><p>The Ombudsman's website is available in all 24 EU languages, including the electronic <a href="https://secure.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/secured/complaintform.faces">complaint form</a> and the <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/interactiveguide.faces">interactive guide</a>,
which helps users to find the appropriate problem-solving mechanism at
EU level or in the Member States. Where a complainant is dissatisfied
with the services of the Ombudsman, he or she can get <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/dissatisfied.faces">advice</a> on where to turn in an EU language of his or her choice.</p><p>The Ombudsman's key publications, such as the <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/activities/annualreports.faces">Annual Report</a>, the service brochure <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/whocanhelpyou.faces#/page/1">"Who can help you?"</a>, and the Ombudsman's guidelines for <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/infosheet.faces">businesses</a> are available in all 24 EU languages. The same applies to information about the current European Ombudsman, <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/cv.faces">Emily O'Reilly</a>, as well as her predecessors. The <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/code.faces#/page/1">European Code of Good Administrative Behaviour</a> is available in all 24 EU languages as well as in the languages of EU candidate countries.</p><h4>Case related work</h4><p>The
Ombudsman receives and handles complaints in all official EU languages.
Most of her investigations, except those dealt with in an informal
procedure (for example, by telephone), are published on her website. The
language policy for the different case related documents is as follows:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/draftrecommendations.faces">Recommendations</a> and <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/decisions.faces">decisions</a> are published in the language of the complainant and in English.</li><li><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/summaries.faces">Summaries</a> of cases which have a wider public interest are published in all 24 languages.</li><li><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/specialreports.faces">Special Reports</a> are published in all 24 EU languages.</li><li><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/initiatives.faces">Own-initiative investigations</a> are published in English, together with summaries in all EU languages.</li><li>Brief information about <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/casesopened.faces">cases opened</a> is available in English.</li><li>Public
consultations are published in all 24 EU languages. However, where
justified, the Ombudsman may decide to invite feedback from targeted
audiences in a limited number of EU languages.</li><li><a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/followups.faces">Follow-up studies</a> are available in all 24 EU languages.</li></ul><h4>Strategic and organisational documents</h4><p>Most of the Ombudsman's strategic and organisational documents, such as her <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/statute.faces">statute</a>, <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/strategy/home.faces">strategy</a>, <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/pr/publicregistersearchpage.faces">public register</a>, and her <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/ethics_and_conduct/home.faces">Code of Conduct</a> are available in all EU languages. The same applies to her <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/publicprocurements/home.faces">public tender announcements</a>. Her <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/strategy/amp.faces">annual management plan</a> or other more specific strategic documents are available in a limited number of EU languages.</p><h4>Media and social media activities</h4><p>The
Ombudsman regularly informs journalists about her investigations and
other news. As most of the relevant journalists are Brussels-based EU
correspondents who need timely information and tend to master English,
German or French, she publishes her <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/press/pressreleases.faces">press releases</a> in those languages only. In cases of extreme time pressure, she may decide to publish press texts in English only.</p><p>The Ombudsman is increasingly using <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/wall/home.faces">social media platforms</a>
to reach out to the public. Content published on these platforms is
mostly by default in English due to their international outreach. She
also publishes press releases, information about <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/activities/calendar.faces">meetings and events</a>
and other news in English, German and French. The Ombudsman's
publications and videos are spread on different social media channels in
the 24 official EU languages.</p><h4>Communication with the European Network of Ombudsmen</h4><p>The
European Ombudsman coordinates the European Network of Ombudsmen which
consists of over 95 offices in 36 European countries. The network
members regularly exchange experiences and best practices via seminars
and meetings, a newsletter, an electronic discussion forum and a daily
electronic news service. Information about the <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/enointroduction.faces">Network</a> as well as a joint <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/statement.faces">statement</a> are available in all 24 EU languages. The languages used within the Network are Spanish, German, English, French, and Italian.</p><h4>Internal communication and recruitment</h4><p>The
Ombudsman's team is multicultural and covers a wide range of official
EU languages. Wherever possible, cases, information requests or
telephone calls are dealt with by a staff member whose mother-tongue is
the language of the applicant or equivalent. If a language cannot be
covered in-house, the Ombudsman uses external translation services.</p><p>The internal working languages are mainly English and French. Information about <a href="https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/recruitment.faces">job openings</a>
in the Ombudsman's office is available in all EU languages. However,
the specific calls for applications are mostly published in English, as a
high level in English is a precondition for most Ombudsman posts.</p>
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