Has Europe’s new mediator fallen into its worst mistake? “maladministration”, when exactly is the mission to track it down in society’s institutions? By appointing, in late October, his chief of staff, the Greek Lambros Papadias, “general secretary” of the state administrationombudsman (read below) At the end of a procedure of possibly dubious legality, Portugal’s Teresa Anjinho, who has been in office since February 27, 2025, risks being exposed to accusations of conflict of interest and nepotism. A “serious violation” which, if confirmed, could result in his dismissal by the Court of Justice of the European Union on the recommendation of the European Parliament. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office may also be interested in this case as the EU’s financial interests have a direct interest.
What is an “ombudsman”?
The function of the European Ombudsman was created under the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 to handle cases of “maladministration” in public institutions that were criticized by European citizens (2,400 complaints by 2023). It could also be self-defeating. The mediator is elected by the European Parliament, to which it is institutionally connected, for five years, and is renewable. It has a small structure of 75 people headquartered in Strasbourg, although the mediator and his office spend most of their time in Brussels.
However, recruitment procedures appear a priori to respect the status of European civil servants. The post of Secretary General, the highest post in a Community institution – with a minimum grade of AD15 (maximum grade of AD16) that carries a salary of between 20,000 and 25,000 euros per month – has been vacant for two years. Indeed, Ireland’s Emily O’Reilly, the exemplary mediator who served between 2015 and 2025, prefers to leave this crucial choice to her successor, as the secretary general sets the agency’s policy on music and music.
