European Ombudsman

The European Union's administrative watchdog called Wednesday for a change to Europe's search and rescue rules following an inquiry into last year's sinking of a rusty fishing boat, the Adriana, carrying hundreds of migrants while traveling from Libya to Italy.

European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly on Wednesday opened an own-initiative inquiry aimed at clarifying the role of Frontex, the European border control agency, in search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea following the drowning of hundreds of people in international waters off the coast of Greece on June 14. 

The European Union's official watchdog said Wednesday it has opened a probe in 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.

Migrant crossings in unseaworthy boats organzied by human traffickers from Northern Africa have spiked this year, with massive losses of life.

Emily O'Reilly remains European Ombudsman for a new five-year term. This was decided by the European Parliament at its meeting today in Strasbourg.

On Wednesday, Emily O'Reilly (Ireland) was elected European Ombudsman for the 2019-2024 parliamentary term. She was backed by 320 MEPs in a secret plenary vote.

European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly on Wednesday called for more assistance to Greece by other European Union member-states to deal with the refugee-migrant crisis.

During a visit to Athens, the European official acknowledged that there is still a solidarity gap within the EU.

The European Parliament reelected on Tuesday the incumbent European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly with a large majority.

O'Reilly was first elected to the position in 2013, succeeding her predecessor Nikiforos Diamandouros upon his retirement.