128 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 errors being made in the first place. Our Guide for 14 November Authorities is a new step in this direction and may Case about access to documents with connection to 2013 teachers’ dispute hopefully be a help to legal and other case officers with authorities – and in this way also contribute to improving the legal protection of citizens’, says Ombudsman Jørgen Steen Sørensen. The Danish Union of Teachers has asked the Parlia­ mentary Ombudsman to reconsider a case about 2 November access to documents with a connection to the Ombudsman raises question about legal basis for placing children of asylum seekers or foreign nationals without legal residence in care against parents’ or guardians’ wishes 2013 teachers’ dispute. The Union has explained The Ombudsman has raised the question with the request to the Ministry of Finance in order that Ministry for Children and Social Affairs whether the the Ministry can reply to the Union’s letter. The legal basis for placing children of asylum seekers Ombudsman has also asked the Ministry to inform or of foreign nationals without legal residence in him of its reply to the Union. that new information has emerged that is of mate­ rial importance to the case, which the Ombudsman concluded in April 2013. The Ombudsman has forwarded the Union’s Denmark in care against their parents’ or guardi­ ans’ wishes is adequate. 9 November Ombudsman closes case about 26-year rule4 after appeals of eight couples have been upheld 23 November Ombudsman raises questions about right of employees of City of Copen­ hagen to pass on non-confidential information to press The Ombudsman has today asked the City of The Immigration Appeals Board has upheld the Copenhagen for a statement about the right of its appeals of eight couples against the refusal by employees to pass on non-confidential informa­ the Immigration Service of their applications for tion to the press. family reunion. For this reason, the Ombudsman has now closed the case which he opened on his This follows media reports last week that it was al­ own initiative after the European Court of Human legedly City Hall service workers who had informed Rights established in 2016 that the 26-year rule in the press that the City had let, among others, the the Danish Aliens Act constituted discrimination. former Mayor for Employment and Integration, use rooms in the City Hall for private purposes free of charge. The media reports state that the City regards the information as non-confidential. 4) A rule according to which, among others, persons who had held Danish citizenship or resided lawfully in Denmark for at least 26 years were exempted from the requirement that in order for family reunion with a spouse to be granted, the aggregate ties of the spouses to Denmark must be stronger than their attachment to any other country.