On the occasion of the start of the new municipal mandate from 1 January 2024, the Ombudsman of the Citizen and the Enterprise Observatory sends an open letter to the 212 Municipalities of the country that - on the basis of the criteria set by Law 3852/2010 (Article 77, paragraph 1) - are obliged to select an Ombudsman of the Citizen and the Enterprise.
The purpose of the letter is to urge the municipal authorities to initiate the procedures by which they will nominate an Ombudsman. Below you can see the list of recipients of this open letter, which was sent to them electronically on 05/01/2024. On this page we will also publish any responses we receive from municipalities.
Here is the content of the letter:
To: Municipality [see list of recipients]
Mayor's Office
Communiqué: President of the Municipal Council
Athens, 05/01/2024
ESSENTIAL
Subject: Choosing an Ombudsman of the Citizen and the Enterprise
Dear Mr/Ms Mayor,
We would firstly like to wish you and your honorable team a happy and creative year, expressing our heartfelt wishes for a thriving and productive 2024 and for a creative and constructive municipal service. The New Year, after all, marks for you a new beginning, which gives you the opportunity - but also the responsibility - to shape, on multiple levels, the daily life of the citizens and generally of the civil society that either lives, works or visits the Municipality, for the better.
As we embrace the opportunities and responsibilities that come with the start of the new municipal authority, with this letter we wish to draw your attention to an important issue that is in line with the principles of transparency, accountability and good administration. In particular, in accordance with the provisions of Law 3852/2010 (Articles 77 and 179), which was re-entered into force by Article 7 of Law 4623/2019 and concerns the Choosing an Ombudsman of the Citizen and the Enterprise, we would like to underline the great importance of starting the selection process in a timely and decisive manner.
More specifically, according to Law 3852/2010, Article 77, paragraph 1, in municipalities of more than twenty thousand (20.000) inhabitants, as well as in island municipalities, by decision of the municipal council, a person of recognized prestige and experience is selected, following a notice published on the website of the municipality, as a supporter of the citizen and the company. Municipality [see list of recipients], based on these criteria, belongs to the municipalities that are obliged to choose an Ombudsman. The procedure for the selection of the Ombudsman takes place within two (2) months from the installation of the municipal authorities (Law 4623/2019, Article 7(3)).
As you will know, the Ombudsman is an institution of mediation between citizens, businesses and the Municipality, aiming at the timely identification and effective treatment of maladministration phenomena, to ensure the impartiality of the municipal authorities and to upgrade the services provided by the Municipality. This independent entity acts as a bridge between local government and city residents, enhancing the trust of citizens and the overall efficiency of municipal services.
More information about the institution of the Ombudsman as well as the history of the Municipality's actions related to electing an Ombudsman can be found in the newly established Ombudsman of the Citizen and the Enterprise Observatory, which aspires to be a supporter of both the Local Government and the elected Ombudsmen, with the ultimate goal of strengthening the Civil Society by strengthening this institution in Greece.
Recognizing the weight of your responsibilities and your commitment to the well-being of the Municipality, we urge you to prioritize the process of selecting a Citizen and Enterprise's Ombudsman, not only in the context of the Municipality's compliance with the letter of the law, but also because the presence of a dedicated Ombudsman will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening the governance structure of the city, enhancing a culture of openness and responsiveness to the needs of its residents.
We thank you in advance for your attention to this issue and express our sincere hope that you will consider this request in the interest of the city and its inhabitants. We wish you a happy and successful new year filled with achievements and positive developments.
Yours sincerely,
Ioannis Fytros
Management symparastatis.gr
Ombudsman of the Citizen and the Enterprise Observatory