[lg policy] The European Ombudsman's language policy

Mon Feb 27 15:53:37 UTC 2017

 The European Ombudsman's language policy
Available languages: bg
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/bg/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.es
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/es/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.cs
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/cs/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.da
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/da/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.de
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/de/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.et
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/et/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.el
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/el/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.en.fr
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/fr/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.ga
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/ga/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.hr
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/hr/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.it
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/it/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.lv
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/lv/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.lt
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/lt/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.hu
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/hu/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.mt
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/mt/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.nl
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/nl/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.pl
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/pl/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.pt
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/pt/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.ro
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/ro/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.sk
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/sk/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.sl
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/sl/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.fi
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/fi/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>
.sv
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces/sv/61097/html.bookmark;jsessionid=C53F4077ED48768278EA534942605990>

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.

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.

The following overview explains the rationale of the Ombudsman's language
choices as regards her most important communications and publications.
Communications with complainants and the public

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.

The Ombudsman's website is available in all 24 EU languages, including the
electronic complaint form
<https://secure.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/secured/complaintform.faces>
and the interactive guide
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/interactiveguide.faces>,
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 advice
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/dissatisfied.faces> on where
to turn in an EU language of his or her choice.

The Ombudsman's key publications, such as the Annual Report
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/activities/annualreports.faces>, the
service brochure "Who can help you?"
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/whocanhelpyou.faces#/page/1>,
and the Ombudsman's guidelines for businesses
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/infosheet.faces> are
available in all 24 EU languages. The same applies to information about the
current European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/cv.faces>, as well as her
predecessors. The European Code of Good Administrative Behaviour
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/code.faces#/page/1> is available
in all 24 EU languages as well as in the languages of EU candidate
countries.
Case related work

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:

   - Recommendations
   <https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/draftrecommendations.faces> and
   decisions <https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/decisions.faces> are
   published in the language of the complainant and in English.
   - Summaries <https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/summaries.faces> of
   cases which have a wider public interest are published in all 24 languages.
   - Special Reports
   <https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/specialreports.faces> are
   published in all 24 EU languages.
   - Own-initiative investigations
   <https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/initiatives.faces> are published
   in English, together with summaries in all EU languages.
   - Brief information about cases opened
   <https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/casesopened.faces> is available
   in English.
   - 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.
   - Follow-up studies
   <https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/followups.faces> are available in
   all 24 EU languages.

Strategic and organisational documents

Most of the Ombudsman's strategic and organisational documents, such as her
statute <https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/statute.faces>, strategy
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/strategy/home.faces>, public
register
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/pr/publicregistersearchpage.faces>,
and her Code of Conduct
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/ethics_and_conduct/home.faces>
are available in all EU languages. The same applies to her public tender
announcements
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/publicprocurements/home.faces>.
Her annual management plan
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/strategy/amp.faces> or other
more specific strategic documents are available in a limited number of EU
languages.
Media and social media activities

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 press releases
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/press/pressreleases.faces> in those
languages only. In cases of extreme time pressure, she may decide to
publish press texts in English only.

The Ombudsman is increasingly using social media platforms
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/wall/home.faces> 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 meetings and events
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/activities/calendar.faces> 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.
Communication with the European Network of Ombudsmen

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 Network
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/enointroduction.faces> as
well as a joint statement
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/resources/statement.faces> are available
in all 24 EU languages. The languages used within the Network are Spanish,
German, English, French, and Italian.
Internal communication and recruitment

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.

The internal working languages are mainly English and French. Information
about job openings
<https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/recruitment.faces> 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.
https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/shortcuts/languagepolicy.faces;jsessionid=B5956943957316BCB93D27ABF9AABD3F

-- 
**************************************
N.b.: Listing on the lgpolicy-list is merely intended as a service to its
members
and implies neither approval, confirmation nor agreement by the owner or
sponsor of the list as to the veracity of a message's contents. Members who
disagree with a message are encouraged to post a rebuttal, and to write
directly to the original sender of any offensive message.  A copy of this
may be forwarded to this list as well.  (H. Schiffman, Moderator)

For more information about the lgpolicy-list, go to
https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/
listinfo/lgpolicy-list
*******************************************
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/lgpolicy-list/attachments/20170227/dac82192/attachment.htm>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
This message came to you by way of the lgpolicy-list mailing list
lgpolicy-list at groups.sas.upenn.edu
To manage your subscription unsubscribe, or arrange digest format: https://groups.sas.upenn.edu/mailman/listinfo/lgpolicy-list