Traditional specialist forums, such as the European Forum Alpbach, are particularly well suited for sharing knowledge and ideas. New monitoring responsibilities I welcome the new preventive monitoring responsibilities of the AOB with regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). They complement and enhance our previous responsibilities, especially in those areas that fall into the competence of regional and municipal administration that are a focus of my activities. Unfortunately, the deadlines for the remodelling of public buildings to provide barrier-free accessibility were extended. It also is not helpful that in all federal Laender there are different regulations for barrier-free building and living. The same applies to the public transportation system. The reasons for this, however, cannot be expanded on here. Nevertheless, it is incomprehensible that in the construction industry and the transportation system – both public and private – no consideration is taken of the demographic development and the fact that it is inevitable that mobility becomes limited in old age. Thanks to committed people with disabilities I can regularly point out the dramatic consequences of various barriers to accessibility in the ORF TV programme Bürgeranwalt. No culture of apology I will also continue to demand a robust “culture of apology” in public administration. I continue to observe that generally attempts are made to avoid apologies for poor performance, as this is viewed as a personal “admission of guilt” with possible liability attached. However, this attitude overlooks several things. First of all, not every error leads to liability of public authorities. And secondly, would it not be appropriate for good public administration to not wait for liability claims to arise but to apologise quasi ex officio and, if applicable, to make compensation for damages? Good public administration should not mean that the person affected must prove an error, but rather that public administration can, at any time, prove the opposite. Decisions take too long It is still the case that the decision periods for public administration agencies mandated by law are viewed not as maximum deadlines but as standard deadlines. Public authorities often overlook the fact that the decision is to be made “at the latest” within the deadline, but even this deadline is often not complied with. Reminders from the affected citizens and intervention by the AOB are necessary, for example, for the requested administrative decision to be issued. Only in rare cases do authorities and public agencies adopt our 28