Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................................7 2. OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................................................9 2.1 Legal mandate.......................................................................................................................................................9 2.2 Structure......................................................................................................................................................................9 2.3 Facts and figures................................................................................................................................................ 11 2.3.1 Preventive control and monitoring activities.................................................................... 11 2.3.2 Monitoring of public administration..................................................................................... 12 2.3.3 Budget and Staff............................................................................................................................... 17 2.3.4 Citizenfriendly communication................................................................................................ 19 2.3.5 Events....................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.3.6 Development of staff and organisational structure.................................................... 21 2.3.7 International activities.................................................................................................................... 22 2.4 The members of the AOB take stock.................................................................................................... 24 2.4.1 Ombudsman Günther Kräuter................................................................................................. 24 2.4.2 Ombudswoman Gertrude Brinek........................................................................................... 26 2.4.3 Ombudsman Peter Fichtenbauer........................................................................................... 28 3. EX-POST CONTROL..................................................................................................................................................... 30 3.1 Anti-discrimination............................................................................................................................................ 30 3.1.1 General perception......................................................................................................................... 30 3.1.2 Discrimination based on illness or disability................................................................... 34 3.1.3 Discrimination on the grounds of nationality or ethnicity....................................... 36 3.2 Federal Chancellery.......................................................................................................................................... 40 3.3 Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs............................................................................................... 42 3.4 Interior....................................................................................................................................................................... 43 3.5 Transport, Innovation and Technology................................................................................................. 48 3.6 Science, Research and Economics.......................................................................................................... 51 4. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES.................................................................................................................................... 52 4.1 International Ombudsman Institute (IOI)............................................................................................. 52 4.2 International organisations and conferences.................................................................................. 53 4.3 Bilateral contacts................................................................................................................................................ 55