Meeting of the Ombudsmen and Mediators of the BENELUX States

Chaired by Claudine Konsbruck, Ombudsman of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Ombudsmen and Mediators of the Benelux met on 21 September 2026 in Brussels, at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Benelux Union, to discuss a number of current issues relating to the protection of citizens’ rights and the improvement of relations between public administrations and service users.

In particular, the meeting provided an opportunity to continue the discussions initiated on the ‘right to make a mistake’, a theme highlighted by the Ombudsman in her 2025 annual report. The participants shared their national experiences and examined ways of promoting a more user-centred administration, whilst upholding the principles of legal certainty and equal treatment. These discussions led to the adoption of a draft Recommendation addressed to the Benelux Parliament.

The proceedings also covered several topics of common interest. The Ombudsmen and Mediators responsible for the rights of children and young people discussed the current challenges affecting this vulnerable section of the population.

The Ombudsmen and Mediators also discussed future reforms in the field of social security following the revision of European Regulation 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems.

Finally, a discussion was devoted to the use of artificial intelligence. The discussions highlighted the opportunities offered by these technologies, whilst emphasising the importance of ensuring procedural transparency, the protection of personal data and the maintenance of human control, particularly in the handling of complaints.

This meeting once again confirmed the importance of close cooperation between the Ombudsmen and Mediators of the Benelux. Sharing experiences and best practice helps to strengthen the protection of users’ rights and to continuously improve the quality of public services within the Benelux region.