Ms Emily O'Reilly:

First, they are big countries. Spain has a very highly developed network of ombudsmen. They have a national ombudsman and many regional ombudsmen. Spanish people are very conscious of the role of the ombudsman. Sometimes it may be that they are complaining about something that is within the remit of the national authority and not the European authority. Sometimes it may be in relation to Catalonia. They can be political, which of course, we cannot get involved in either. In the last number of years there have been issues there in that regard about which we have received many complaints. Spain tops the table every single year. We examine every complaint and it tends to be that Spanish people are aware that an ombudsman solves problems. If they have a problem they will write to the ombudsman. They are aware of this because they have so many ombudsmen in their own country. They think at European level I might have more clout, but I have no say over the member state ombudsmen.

I imagine Poland probably has the same sort of issues. It may be political or it may be in relation to fundamental rights and the rule of law. Those sorts of issues have emerged much more strongly over the last while.

Germany does not have a national ombudsman. It has regional ombudsmen and a petitions committee. I think the majority of complaints come from the three countries because they are big member states. There are political issues in all three countries that people think may be resolved by the European Ombudsman. When it comes to member states, I do not have a role if it is within the competence of the national authorities.

Germany does not have an ombudsman. It is regional ombudsmen, but it has a petitions committee. I cannot say but I think it is largely because they are big member states. There are political issues in all of those countries that they think may have a better chance of being resolved by the European ombudsman may have a better chance of resolution. When it comes to member states, I simply do not have a role if it is within the competence of the national authorities.