7. Election of the new Ombudsman (announcement of candidates)

The President said that applications for the office of European Ombudsman for the remainder of the parliamentary term had to be tabled by 8 May 2013 at the latest(minutes of 15.4.2013, item 7).

Eight applications had been received before that date. After consideration, it had emerged that six candidates fulfilled the admission criteria. They are listed below in alphabetical order:

- Alex Brenninkmeijer

- Markus Jaeger

- Ria Oomen-Ruijten

- Emily O'Reilly

- Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, and

- Francesco Enrico Speroni.

These six applications would be forwarded to the Committee on Petitions when the files were available in all official languages. The Committee on Petitions would hold hearings of the candidates on 18 June 2013; the hearings would be open to all Members.

The new Ombudsman would be elected in plenary during the July part-session.