21 compromises (negotiated by ALDE, EPP, S&D and EFD Groups) were adopted in committee and solved the majority of sensitive issues. In addition, the key ideas put forward in the opinions of five other Parliament committees were taken on board by the Rapporteur.

While welcoming the Commission's ongoing actions, the initiative report insists on the need to find solutions to the main issues of concern for citizens; the implementation of the FMD, the lack of active communication between national authorities and citizens, the lack of information and awareness of citizens on their EU rights, the huge amount of administrative red tape, the implementation of the recognition of professional qualification directive, the problems faced by people with disabilities, double taxation, electoral rights, social security rules, family law and the non-recognition of civil status documents.

Moreover, MEPs insisted on the fact that the European Citizens' Initiative regulation, which will apply from 1 April 2012, will give citizens the ability to become actively involved in the framing of European policies and legislation.

Finally, the report underlines the potential value of designating 2013 the 'European Year of Citizenship' as a means of highlighting EU citizens' rights and to build momentum for awareness-raising.

The Vălean Report was adopted by the European Parliament on Thursday, 29th March 2012 by a large majority, sending a clear message of support to European citizens.

Background

The European Parliament offers citizens the chance to voice their concerns via a petition to the Committee on Petitions. Environmental issues remain the most dominant of all issues raised by petition and particularly the application of the Waste Management Directive by Member States.

Major concern over this issue spurred the Committee on Petitions to undertake a number of fact-finding visits to Ireland, France, Italy and Spain. The EPP Group committee members also backed the drafting of an own initiative report on the many petitions received concerning inappropriate waste management facilities and the improper implementation of EU legislation by the Member States.

The objective of the Carlos Iturgaiz report was to pinpoint common problems and possible solutions of general validity for the further development of the European waste sector.

Key points

In his text, the author identifies three main problem areas: a lack of sound environmental impact assessment and public consultations in the permitting procedure for landfills; the incorrect operation of waste management facilities and deficiencies in waste management systems.

The report urges Member States to speed up the transposition of the Waste framework Directive into national law, monitored by the European Commission. It stresses that major investment is required to establish waste management strategies, infrastructures and facilities in most Members states.

It also calls for the reinforcement of the existing European Environment Agency rather than the creation of a new body. It states that the recycling industry is ofen neglected and under-utilised despite its potential to provide up to half a million jobs, as certain types of waste constitute a productive resource.

In addition, the MEP encourages early and effective dialogue between responsible, local and regional authorities and local citizens in the planning stages before decisions are taken on the construction of waste treatment installations.

Finally, the report recommends imposing, in accordance with the polluter-pays principle, adequate and dissuasive fines and penalties for illegal disposal of waste (especially with regard to toxic and hazardous waste).

Result

Following its endorsement at committee level in October 2011, new compromises were reached by the Rapporteur in order to obtain a consensus within the political groups. Subsequently, Parliament approved the final text on February 2nd with 632 votes in favour, 18 votes against and 22 abstentions.

Findings of the Petitions Committee

In 2010, the Ombudsman registered 2,667 complaints from citizens, companies, associations and NGO's. Only 744 or 27% were within his mandate. 326 inquires were completed in 2010 - 323 linked to complaints and three were own-initiative.

The most common allegation examined by the Ombudsman concerned a lack of transparency in EU administration. Indeed, the number of transparency related complaints has remained high over recent years.

In 2010, the Ombudsman submitted one special report to Parliament on a complaint against the Commission by a citizen on access to documents relating to CO2 emissions from cars. The Commission failed to reply to the Ombudsman's findings for almost 15 months, although the deadline established by the Treaty is three months. Parliament endorsed the Ombudsman's findings by a large majority on October 27th 2010.

The Committee on Petitions fully endorsed the new strategy that the Ombudsman formulated for his mandate 2009-2014. The main objectives are to deliver fast results by reducing the time needed to close inquiries and by developing simplified procedures for rapid resolutions of complaints, as well as to impact positively on the EU institutions' administrative culture by helping to improve administrative practices.

The report was presented to the European Parliament for approval at the October II plenary session in 2011 and was adopted on October 27th.

Report on the annual report on the European Ombudsman's activities in 2010