In the course of the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg in April, the European Mediator Jacob Söderman presented his report for 2001, a document aimed at reviewing the cases of maladministration that European citizens have suffered in their relations with EU institutions. Söderman declared his lack of conviction about the real application, especially by the Council and the EP, of the provisions that regulate public access to EU documents. He denounced the lack of transparency of the institutions and stressed the need for the organs of government to respect the provisions on privacy. The Mediator also emphasized the need for the EU institutions to adopt a Code of good administrative conduct. In 2001, the office of the Mediator examined 2,179 cases, promoted four enquiries and concluded 253 separate investigations. Among the main causes of bad management are lack of transparency, unjustified delays, lack of respect for the rights of defence, negligence, abuse of power and discrimination. The State from which most of the complaints come is Germany. Italy is in fourth place.
