Excellence in citizen-focused services delivery
Category
Award for Good Administration 2021
Introduced in 2017, the award recognises actions by the EU public service that have a visible and positive impact on the lives of citizens, and aims to encourage the sharing of good ideas and practices.
In this third edition of the award, the overall winners were the Commission’s department for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO) and the European External Action Service (EEAS) for their efforts to repatriate EU citizens stranded abroad during the pandemic. Prizes were also awarded in four categories:
excellence in citizen-focused services delivery
excellence in communications
excellence in innovation/transformation
excellence in crisis management
All nominations were assessed by an independent advisory board, and the winners were chosen by the Ombudsman.
This year, a special award was also given to an action that went beyond all categories – a solidarity project set up by EU staff. Also, for the first time, the public could choose their favourite project via an online vote.
Advisory board 2021
Tomasz Tadeusz Koncewicz,
Director of the Department of European and Comparative Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration, University of Gdańsk.
Lora Vidović,
Former Croatian Ombudswoman and human rights expert
Christopher Docksey,
Honorary Director General of the European Data Protection Supervisor
Award Keynote Speech
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen opened the ceremony and shared her thoughts on the achievements by the EU administration in the past years.
Overall winners 2021
The European Ombudsman Award for Good Administration 2021 honours the EU’s extraordinary efforts last year to help repatriate over a half million EU citizens stranded around the world due to the pandemic.
The joint winning projects were undertaken by staff in the Commission’s department for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (DG ECHO) and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Bringing stranded EU citizens home
European External Action Service
Joint winners
Bringing citizens home during the pandemic
European Commission - DG ECHO
Emergency Response Coordination Centre
Joint winners
Shortlisted projects
EU Datathons: Making open data useful for citizens
Publications Office of the European Union
SURE thing! EU emergency money to keep people employed
European Commission - DG ECFIN, DG EMPL, DG BUDG
Giving civil society a say on green transition
European Economic and Social Committee and European Commission - DG ENV
Category winner
Excellence in citizen-focused services delivery
Excellence in communications
Category
Shortlisted projects
Fighting African swine fever: forging a united front in South-East Europe
European Food Safety Authority
Using influencers to raise awareness about EU climate policies
European Commission - DG REGIO
#yourEUright - modern communications for a young audience
European Commission - DG JUST
Category winner
Excellence in communications
Excellence in innovation / transformation
Category
Shortlisted projects
Helping people to track what happens to their private data
European Data Protection Supervisor
Using artificial intelligence to serve a multilingual EU
Translation Centre for the Bodies of the EU and European Union Intellectual Property Office
Digital justice during the pandemic
Court of Justice of the European Union
Category winner
Excellence in innovation / transformation
Excellence in crisis management
Category
Shortlisted projects
Ensuring business continuity during the pandemic
Council of the European Union - General Secretariat of the Council
EUIPO: A big heart for small businesses
European Union Intellectual Property Office
Ensuring speed and accountability in the EU’s response to COVID-19
European Commission - DG REGIO, DG EMPL, DG MARE, DG AGRI
Category winner
Excellence in crisis management
Public vote
Category
Public vote
For the first time this year, all nominated projects were put up for a public vote. There were more than 6000 votes cast and Access2Markets - a free, multilingual, website that explains smaller businesses how they can export and import beyond the EU – has been the public's favourite.
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3
Project 4
Project 5
Project 6
Project 7
Project 8
Project 10
Project 11
Project 12
Project 13
Project 14
Project 15
Project 16
Project 9
Project 17
Project 18
Project 19
Project 20
Project 21
Project 22
Project 23
Project 24
Project 25
Project 26
Project 27
Project 28
Project 29
Project 30
Project 31
Project 32
Project 33
Project 34
Project 35
Project 36
Project 37
1.57%
EU Datathons: Making open data useful for citizens
Publications Office of the European Union
1.55%
Demystifying the Brussels bubble
European Commission - DG GROW
4.31%
Adapting the Commission’s traineeship programme to crisis times
European Commission - DG EAC
0.94%
Keeping people informed of their privacy rights in a digital age
European Data Protection Supervisor
1.54%
Helping people to track what happens to their private data
European Data Protection Supervisor
2.89%
The Parliament’s transport unit - a lesson in adapting to crisis
European Parliament
3.16%
Turning the Parliament carbon neutral by 2030
European Parliament
4.31%
Ensuring business continuity during the pandemic
Council of the European Union - General Secretariat of the Council
4.43%
SURE thing! EU emergency money to keep people employed
European Commission - DG ECFIN, DG EMPL, DG BUDG
3.99%
EUIPO: A big heart for small businesses
European Union Intellectual Property Office
0.79%
From Boardroom to Broadband: the new world of online meetings
European Food Safety Authority
2.24%
Telling the EU’s story - decade by decade
European Commission - DG REGIO
0.87%
Fighting African swine fever: forging a united front in South-East Europe
European Food Safety Authority
1.17%
Challenges for food safety driven by climate change
European Food Safety Authority
3.26%
DingDongEU - Ready for the Green Challenge?
European Commission - DG REGIO
4.16%
Using artificial intelligence to serve a multilingual EU
Translation Centre for the Bodies of the EU and European Union Intellectual Property Office
4.61%
Ensuring speed and accountability in the EU’s response to COVID-19
European Commission - DG REGIO, DG EMPL, DG MARE, DG AGRI
1.12%
Watching each other’s back - helping staff deal with COVID-19
European Parliament
3.54%
#yourEUright - modern communications for a young audience
European Commission - DG JUST
9.14%
Puntoycoma: the must-read journal by Spanish language translators
Spanish-language translators in the EU institutions
1.04%
Bringing the LGBTIQ equality strategy to new audiences
European Commission - DG JUST
1.05%
Establishing best practices for helping pandemic-hit consumers and businesses
European Commission - DG FISMA
0.30%
Bringing stranded EU citizens home
European External Action Service
2.02%
Business continuity and innovation in occupational safety and health
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
3.78%
Giving civil society a say on green transition
European Economic and Social Committee and European Commission - DG ENV
6.54%
eTranslation - bringing a multilingual EU to citizens
European Commission - DGT and DG CNECT
1.69%
Bringing citizens home during the pandemic
European Commission - DG ECHO
1.09%
rescEU medical stockpile: protecting our first responders
European Commission - DG ECHO
1.00%
Humanitarian Air Bridge: Bringing relief during the coronavirus pandemic
European Commission - DG ECHO
2.01%
Showing how the EU helps during disasters
European Commission - DG ECHO
0.70%
Coordinating the response of EU agencies to the COVID-19 crisis
European Union Agencies Network
9.48%
Access2Markets - Helping small businesses trade their way to recovery
European Commission - DG TRADE
1.34%
B-solutions: Cross-border problem solving for border regions
European Commission - DG REGIO
0.75%
Video on evacuation procedures for EU buildings
European Parliament
1.62%
Digital justice during the pandemic
Court of Justice of the European Union
2.51%
Coordinating the EU response to the COVID-19 crisis
European Commission - DG ECHO
3.49%
Fundraising to support the COVID-19 response
European institutions staff members initiative
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3
Project 4
Project 5
Project 6
Project 7
Project 8
Project 10
Project 11
Project 12
Project 13
Project 14
Project 15
Project 16
Project 9
Project 17
Project 18
Project 19
Project 20
Project 21
Project 22
Project 23
Project 24
Project 25
Project 26
Project 27
Project 28
Project 29
Project 30
Project 31
Project 32
Project 33
Project 34
Project 35
Project 36
Project 37
1.57%
EU Datathons: Making open data useful for citizens
Publications Office of the European Union
1.55%
Demystifying the Brussels bubble
European Commission - DG GROW
4.31%
Adapting the Commission’s traineeship programme to crisis times
European Commission - DG EAC
0.94%
Keeping people informed of their privacy rights in a digital age
European Data Protection Supervisor
1.54%
Helping people to track what happens to their private data
European Data Protection Supervisor
2.89%
The Parliament’s transport unit - a lesson in adapting to crisis
European Parliament
3.16%
Turning the Parliament carbon neutral by 2030
European Parliament
4.31%
Ensuring business continuity during the pandemic
Council of the European Union - General Secretariat of the Council
4.43%
SURE thing! EU emergency money to keep people employed
European Commission - DG ECFIN, DG EMPL, DG BUDG
3.99%
EUIPO: A big heart for small businesses
European Union Intellectual Property Office
0.79%
From Boardroom to Broadband: the new world of online meetings
European Food Safety Authority
2.24%
Telling the EU’s story - decade by decade
European Commission - DG REGIO
0.87%
Fighting African swine fever: forging a united front in South-East Europe
European Food Safety Authority
1.17%
Challenges for food safety driven by climate change
European Food Safety Authority
3.26%
DingDongEU - Ready for the Green Challenge?
European Commission - DG REGIO
4.16%
Using artificial intelligence to serve a multilingual EU
Translation Centre for the Bodies of the EU and European Union Intellectual Property Office
4.61%
Ensuring speed and accountability in the EU’s response to COVID-19
European Commission - DG REGIO, DG EMPL, DG MARE, DG AGRI
1.12%
Watching each other’s back - helping staff deal with COVID-19
European Parliament
3.54%
#yourEUright - modern communications for a young audience
European Commission - DG JUST
9.14%
Puntoycoma: the must-read journal by Spanish language translators
Spanish-language translators in the EU institutions
1.04%
Bringing the LGBTIQ equality strategy to new audiences
European Commission - DG JUST
1.05%
Establishing best practices for helping pandemic-hit consumers and businesses
European Commission - DG FISMA
0.30%
Bringing stranded EU citizens home
European External Action Service
2.02%
Business continuity and innovation in occupational safety and health
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
3.78%
Giving civil society a say on green transition
European Economic and Social Committee and European Commission - DG ENV
6.54%
eTranslation - bringing a multilingual EU to citizens
European Commission - DGT and DG CNECT
1.69%
Bringing citizens home during the pandemic
European Commission - DG ECHO
1.09%
rescEU medical stockpile: protecting our first responders
European Commission - DG ECHO
1.00%
Humanitarian Air Bridge: Bringing relief during the coronavirus pandemic
European Commission - DG ECHO
2.01%
Showing how the EU helps during disasters
European Commission - DG ECHO
0.70%
Coordinating the response of EU agencies to the COVID-19 crisis
European Union Agencies Network
9.48%
Access2Markets - Helping small businesses trade their way to recovery
European Commission - DG TRADE
1.34%
B-solutions: Cross-border problem solving for border regions
European Commission - DG REGIO
0.75%
Video on evacuation procedures for EU buildings
European Parliament
1.62%
Digital justice during the pandemic
Court of Justice of the European Union
2.51%
Coordinating the EU response to the COVID-19 crisis
European Commission - DG ECHO
3.49%
Fundraising to support the COVID-19 response
European institutions staff members initiative
Project 1
Project 2
Project 3
Project 4
Project 5
Project 6
Project 7
Project 8
Project 10
Project 11
Project 12
Project 13
Project 14
Project 15
Project 16
Project 9
Project 17
Project 18
Project 19
Project 20
Project 21
Project 22
Project 23
Project 24
Project 25
Project 26
Project 27
Project 28
Project 29
Project 30
Project 31
Project 32
Project 33
Project 34
Project 35
Project 36
Project 37
1.57%
EU Datathons: Making open data useful for citizens
Publications Office of the European Union
1.55%
Demystifying the Brussels bubble
European Commission - DG GROW
4.31%
Adapting the Commission’s traineeship programme to crisis times
European Commission - DG EAC
0.94%
Keeping people informed of their privacy rights in a digital age
European Data Protection Supervisor
1.54%
Helping people to track what happens to their private data
European Data Protection Supervisor
2.89%
The Parliament’s transport unit - a lesson in adapting to crisis
European Parliament
3.16%
Turning the Parliament carbon neutral by 2030
European Parliament
4.31%
Ensuring business continuity during the pandemic
Council of the European Union - General Secretariat of the Council
4.43%
SURE thing! EU emergency money to keep people employed
European Commission - DG ECFIN, DG EMPL, DG BUDG
3.99%
EUIPO: A big heart for small businesses
European Union Intellectual Property Office
0.79%
From Boardroom to Broadband: the new world of online meetings
European Food Safety Authority
2.24%
Telling the EU’s story - decade by decade
European Commission - DG REGIO
0.87%
Fighting African swine fever: forging a united front in South-East Europe
European Food Safety Authority
1.17%
Challenges for food safety driven by climate change
European Food Safety Authority
3.26%
DingDongEU - Ready for the Green Challenge?
European Commission - DG REGIO
4.16%
Using artificial intelligence to serve a multilingual EU
Translation Centre for the Bodies of the EU and European Union Intellectual Property Office
4.61%
Ensuring speed and accountability in the EU’s response to COVID-19
European Commission - DG REGIO, DG EMPL, DG MARE, DG AGRI
1.12%
Watching each other’s back - helping staff deal with COVID-19
European Parliament
3.54%
#yourEUright - modern communications for a young audience
European Commission - DG JUST
9.14%
Puntoycoma: the must-read journal by Spanish language translators
Spanish-language translators in the EU institutions
1.04%
Bringing the LGBTIQ equality strategy to new audiences
European Commission - DG JUST
1.05%
Establishing best practices for helping pandemic-hit consumers and businesses
European Commission - DG FISMA
0.30%
Bringing stranded EU citizens home
European External Action Service
2.02%
Business continuity and innovation in occupational safety and health
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
3.78%
Giving civil society a say on green transition
European Economic and Social Committee and European Commission - DG ENV
6.54%
eTranslation - bringing a multilingual EU to citizens
European Commission - DGT and DG CNECT
1.69%
Bringing citizens home during the pandemic
European Commission - DG ECHO
1.09%
rescEU medical stockpile: protecting our first responders
European Commission - DG ECHO
1.00%
Humanitarian Air Bridge: Bringing relief during the coronavirus pandemic
European Commission - DG ECHO
2.01%
Showing how the EU helps during disasters
European Commission - DG ECHO
0.70%
Coordinating the response of EU agencies to the COVID-19 crisis
European Union Agencies Network
9.48%
Access2Markets - Helping small businesses trade their way to recovery
European Commission - DG TRADE
1.34%
B-solutions: Cross-border problem solving for border regions
European Commission - DG REGIO
0.75%
Video on evacuation procedures for EU buildings
European Parliament
1.62%
Digital justice during the pandemic
Court of Justice of the European Union
2.51%
Coordinating the EU response to the COVID-19 crisis
European Commission - DG ECHO
3.49%
Fundraising to support the COVID-19 response
European institutions staff members initiative
Special Award 2021
The Ombudsman granted a Special Award to the 'EU Staff for Climate' collective for launching a solidarity fund, together with the King Baudouin Foundation, in response to the pandemic. 1200 EU employees contributed more than €500.000, supporting 26 projects in 9 EU countries.
© European Union, 2021
Reproduction for educational and non-commercial purposes is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged.
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