Former EU Ombudsman Criticises European Commission's Information Secrecy

Emily O'Reilly, the European Union's former ombudsman, has criticised the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen for its elitist and anti-democratic stance on transparency. According to O'Reilly, the Commission withholds information and at times acts contrary to democratic principles. The criticism comes as the openness of EU institutions is under broader scrutiny.

The European Union's former ombudsman Emily O'Reilly has levelled sharp criticism at the Ursula von der Leyen-led European Commission, accusing the institution of withholding information and maintaining an elitist approach. According to O'Reilly, the Commission is sometimes openly anti-democratic.

Lack of transparency

In the former ombudsman's assessment, the European Commission's approach to public information is concerning. An institution that should represent the interests of all EU citizens, she argues, conceals information that should be publicly available. Such conduct erodes trust in European institutions and widens the gap between EU bureaucracy and ordinary citizens.

O'Reilly, who served as the EU ombudsman for an extended period and investigated numerous complaints about EU institutional conduct, stressed that the Commission's transparency problems are not isolated incidents but a systemic phenomenon. Her criticism points specifically to the work style of the executive under von der Leyen's leadership.

Anti-democratic stance

O'Reilly was particularly sharp in criticising the Commission's elitist worldview, which she believes is reflected in how the institution treats citizens and their right to access information. Such an attitude contradicts the principles of transparency and openness enshrined in the EU's founding treaties.

The criticism comes at a time when the democratic legitimacy of EU institutions and their closeness to citizens is a subject of broader political debate. Many member states, including Estonia, have emphasised the need for a more open and citizen-centred European Union.