EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN CALLS FOR GREATER FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION FOR EUROPEAN OFFICIALS.

On 12 January, the European Ombudsman, Jacob Soderman, called on the European Commission to respect the fundamental principle of freedom of expression when drawing up guidelines for its officials. To this end, the Ombudsman has announced that he may open an own-initiative inquiry regarding EU officials' freedom of expression in light of Nice Charter of Fundamental Rights. He remarked that at the Nice Summit in December 2000, the Charter states that, "Everyone...