The Latest Breaking News from Emily OReilly

Europe overhauls funding to Tunisia after Guardian exposes migrant abuse

Allegations of rape, beatings and collusion by EU-funded security forces prompt shift in migration arrangements

The Guardian - UK · Jan 24, 2025

EU refuses to publish findings of Tunisia human rights inquiry

Inquiry preceded controversial migration deal linked to claims of abuse in increasingly authoritarian country

The Guardian - UK · Oct 23, 2024

EU unable to retrieve €150m paid to Tunisia despite links to rights violations

Concerns are growing that funds from the migration deal are connected to abuses by the repressive regime in Tunis

The Guardian - UK · Oct 11, 2024

EU watchdog opens probe in role of bloc's border agency in Mediterranean shipwreck tragedy

The European Union’s official watchdog says it has opened a probe into the role of the bloc’s Frontex border agency in the shipwreck off Greece last month that is feared to have killed hundreds of people in the Mediterranean Sea

The Independent UK · Jul 26, 2023

Watchdog investigates EU border agency’s role after Greece boat disaster

Ombudsman to examine search and rescue role of Frontex after at least 500 people drowned in tragedy

The Guardian - UK · Jul 26, 2023

Watchdog sees fault in EU Commission tobacco contacts

The European ombudsman has made an initial finding that the European Commission's failure to be fully transparent about its meetings with the tobacco industry constitutes maladministration and is demanding an answer within three months.

Reuters · Apr 18, 2023

EU watchdog seeks powers, funds for lawmaker probe body

European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly says that a European Parliament body supervising anti-lobbying and lawmakers' conduct rules must be given the power and money to launch independent investigations

The Independent UK · Jan 30, 2023

EU Commission 'has a responsibility to come clean' on 'Pfizergate': EU Ombudsman

Emily O'Reilly, who heads the EU Ombudsman, says she has been stonewalled by the European Commission when asking for information in relation to the "Pfizergate" affair. At the core of this controversy is an exchange of text messages between the EU Commission chief and the CEO of Pfizer in the…

France 24 · Jan 27, 2023

Ombudswoman says missing EU Pfizer vaccine deal texts are "wake-up call"

The European Union's ombudswoman criticised the European Commission for failing to find and publish text messages between the executive's president, Ursula von der Leyen, and the head of Pfizer negotiating a massive COVID-19 vaccine deal.

Reuters · Jul 14, 2022

Watchdog reprimands EU executive for failing to share Von der Leyen texts

European Commission ‘gave no good reason’ why its president’s messages with Pfizer were not released

The Guardian - UK · Jul 14, 2022