Luxembourg’s ombudsman Claudia Monti on 12 July presented her 2021 report in front of the chamber of deputies. Over 2021, the mediator’s team treated 961 cases, compared to 914 last year. The ombudsman serves as a link between citizens and public institutions by treating issues encountered by residents and finding a solution with administrations. 

Among recommendations issued by Monti was a request to address legislation on co-parental leave. Monti cited the case of a same-sex couple, where the non-biological mother could not have access to parental leave. In this case the ombudsman recommended that Luxembourg takes example from other EU countries such as Portugal where parental leave is available for non-biological parents. In May, Luxembourg’s government presented  that extended paternal leave to same-sex couples. 

The mediator also recommended that the procedure to request cost-of-living aids should be reviewed. “If someone misses their deadline, they can’t apply again, but if they apply too early, they can’t either,” Monti explained. One deadline a year is too rigid, and doesn’t take into consideration the changes that can occur in a person’s financial status over a twelve-month period, according to the ombudsman.

Lastly, Monti recommended a more integrative way of looking at legislation surrounding cross-border workers. “This is an issue that should be looked at from an EU point-of-view,” Monti admitted later, but insisted that the grand duchy should already work on the case. 

More clarity in administrative procedures 

Among the cases the ombudsman reviewed during the presentation of her report, “there were the same issues as always,” says Monti. A lack of responsiveness or delayed replies by various ministries were a cause for concern for some citizens, for example when it came to reimbursements when applying for subsidies for purchasing a bicycle or an electric car.

“When people have a question, explain it to them. They have to receive an answer,” said Monti. Some procedures are unclear and create misunderstanding. The mediator here took the example of students whose diplomas were not recognised despite the fact that they had received study aid from the government. And for dossiers where citizens were refused subsidies, “it’s not enough to say that it’s been refused. You have to show all the ways of appealing this [decision].”

that administrations should clarify the ways in which residents could appeal decisions from administrations. 

The ombudsman also referenced the ministry of foreign affairs’ reaction to the situation in Afghanistan--stating that it had been too slow to refuges settle in Luxembourg. The lack of information on reimbursement by the national health fund CNS was also mentioned. The ombudsman also reported that some administrations’ responses to her were also delayed.