Network of Municipal and Regional Ombudsmen

In Athens today, Tuesday, December 18, 2012, the following Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsmen serving in Municipalities of the Prefecture of Attica and the Regional Citizen and Business Ombudsman serving in the Region of Attica gathered at the Athens City Hall and,

taking into account

• Article 102 of the Constitution, according to which local government organizations have a presumption of competence for the administration of local affairs,
• Article 77 and Article 179 of Law 3852/2010 (Government Gazette A' 87/7.6.2010, New Architecture of Local Government and Decentralized Administration - Kallikrates Program), which provide for the election, operation, responsibilities and statutory position of the Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsman, as well as the Regional Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsman,
• the Resolution of the Council of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (Council of Europe) no. 80/1999 on the role of local and regional Ombudsmen/Advocates in the defense of citizens' rights, which recommends the establishment of a network of local Ombudsmen for the collection of experiences, cooperation and harmonization for the resolution of citizens' problems with public authorities,

decide

1. The establishment of a Network of Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsmen and Regional Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsmen, with the aim of promoting, supporting, consolidating the institution, gathering experiences and cooperating for the harmonization of practices in the exercise of mediation responsibilities, with full respect for the autonomy and independence of each Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsman and each Regional Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsman.

2. The creation of an online platform for the implementation of constant communication between the Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsmen and the Regional Citizen and Enterprise Ombudsmen with the launch of the Network's website, which will be accessible to interested parties, in order to form a database with common practices and experiences acquired during the exercise of the relevant responsibilities, as well as for the search for information and the exchange of views.

3. The holding of regular meetings on a quarterly basis or extraordinary meetings for the exchange of views and experiences and the coordination of actions.

4. The participation of the Network in meetings of institutional bodies concerning local government and decentralized administration, at local, regional, national, European and international levels.

5. Undertaking actions and making representations to institutional bodies to enhance the prestige of the institution, defend its independence and consolidate it in the local government administrative system.

6. Preparing and promoting the required proposals for reforms and improvements for the more effective exercise of the institution's responsibilities.

7. The possibility of participation in the Network of any similar local government institution, with a relevant signed declaration.

8. The assignment of the role of coordinator of the Network to a member thereof, with a vote and the possibility of its recall, within the framework of the regular quarterly meeting. The coordinator is responsible for convening meetings, operating the online platform, maintaining the Network's documents and representing the Network to third parties by proxy.

9. Supporting all of the above in a framework of reciprocity, understanding and adherence to democratic procedures.

10. Cooperating with other corresponding or similar institutions to promote citizens' rights in Greece and abroad.

Athens, December 18, 2012

THE OMBUDSMEN OF THE CITIZEN AND THE ENTERPRISE

Grammatidis Efstratios (Municipality of Agia Paraskevi)

Sotiropoulos Vasilios (Municipality of Athens)

Kalogeropoulos Theodoros (Municipality of Aspropyrgos)

Sarolas Dimitrios (Municipality of Byron)

Sfika Eleni (Municipality of Zografou)

Chaini Sibylla (Municipality of Heraklion)

Kombolakis Georgios (Municipality of Kallithea)

Lalos Kanellos (Municipality of Keratsini - Drapetsona)

Nastoulis Thomas (Municipality of Pallini)

Michaels Evangelos (Municipality of Saronikos)

Dromazos Vasilios (Municipality of Filothei – Psychiko)

REGIONAL CITIZEN AND ENTERPRISE OMBUDSMEN

Papaspyrou Maria (Attica Region)