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Between 4-7 February, the Greek Ombudsman hosted 6 members of the Albanian People’s Advocate scientific staff, who attended a 3-days Workshop together with Greek Ombudsman experts. During the course of the Workshop experts of both Ombudsman institutions presented the legislation applied in their respective countries, the correspondent administrative practices and standards as well as the ombudsman work on the following thematics of daily sessions: a) Issues of judicial decisions execution against the public administration, b) Protection of the environment and urban planning, c) EU legislation pertinent to immigration, focusing on the Shengen Treaty.

In April, following a request from the Council of Europe’s General Directorate of Human Rights the senior investigators Ms. Chrysa Hatzi and Mr. Christos Tsaitouridis prepared a commentary on the second draft law for the Ombudsman of Montenegrin Republic. Their remarks, along with those from experts of the OSCE and the UNHCR, were include in a joint consultancy report which was presented to the competent Montenegrin authorities.

Between 22-23 May, the Greek Ombudsman organised a 2-day International Workshop on the ‘Ombudsman’s role in South-Eastern Europe – strengthening the rule of law as a step towards European integration’. During the course of the Workshop senior officials from the Ombudsman institutions of Albania, the entities of Bosnia – Herzegovina, Croatia, FYRoM and Kosovo as well as representatives from the Ombudsman law drafting committees of Montenegro and Bulgaria, presented the historical framework of the establishment and functioning of the Ombudsman in their respective countries. In addition they exchanged views with experts from the Greek Ombudsman, the Council of Europe and the OSCE on the following thematic sessions: a) Competence of the Ombudsman and relation with the Judiciary, b) Human rights and rule of law in the National Ombudsman discourse, c) The Ombudsman stakes for strengthening rule of law and human rights protection in the European integration process.

Between 12-15 October, the project coordinators Messrs. Dimitris Hormovitis and Dimitris Christopoulos had meetings in Sofia with the heads of the Law Programme of the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) and with officials from the Bulgarian Parliament and the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice. The aim of these contacts was the cooperation and coordination of activities in view of the organization of a Conference on the subject of the Ombudsman's working experience in Southeastern Europe.

Between 28-30 November, the Greek Ombudsman organized a Conference in Sofia entitled "The role of the Ombudsman in Southeastern Europe (SEE)". The event was held on the premises of the Bulgarian National Assembly with co-hosting of the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice, the Presidency of the Bulgarian Assembly and the Center for the Study of Democracy. The Conference aimed to promote the Ombudsman institution, especially in view of the introduction of this institution in Bulgaria in the beginning of 2004. The proceedings were followed by representations from practically all the Ombudsman institutions in Southeastern Europe as well as Ombudsmen of other European States and international institutions striving towards the establishment of democratic institutions in SEE. The Greek Ombudsman delegation consisted of the Greek Ombudsman, Mr. Yorgos Kaminis, the deputy Ombudsmen Messrs. Andreas Takis and Giorgos Moschos and 16 members of the investigative staff who are members of the Eunomia project's support team. The event's proceedings affirmed the project's important feats as regards the relations of the Greek Ombudsman with its counterpart institutions and its contribution to the promotion of Greece's role to the institution building process and the establishment of the rule of law in Southeastern Europe.

Between 18-20 December, eight members of the Kosovo Ombudsman staff attended a 3-day training seminar at the office of the Greek Ombudsman. The seminar sessions focused on the following subjects: a) the role of the Ombudsman in societies in transition, b) case handling by Greek Ombudsman department, c) compliance of the administration with the Ombudsman's recommendations, e) the relation of the Ombudsman with the media, f) the drafting of the annual report and the relation of the Ombudsman with the judicial authorities. The seminar aimed to familiarize the Kosovo Ombudsman staff with the experiences of the Greek Ombudsman on matters of common interest (especially subjects of human rights and children's rights) and the establishment of mutual understanding of the different role that the Ombudsman undertakes within the constitutional polity of societies with rule of law and those in transitory phase.

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