14 ANNUAL REPORT 2011 It will therefore be important to balance expectations as accurately as possible to prevent unrealistic expectations of the likely result of lodging a complaint with the Ombudsman. At the same time, it will be important to continue the work to achieve more efficient and better case handling procedures at the Ombudsman institution, always provided the legal quality is not impaired. Good administration involves far more than finely calibrated law. It is also a matter of well-considered use of resources, fast case processing and good management, and of course the Ombudsman institution should lead the way with a good example. In short, there is a broad range of important issues to tackle when the Ombudsman institution has to adapt to new times. However, if the Ombudsman institution succeeds in maintaining and developing a critical yet constructive relationship with the administration, using the institution’s resources purposefully for its core activities and realistically adjusting the expectations of the surrounding world, the Ombudsman institution will continue to be a fundamental part of the Danish legal community and of the principle of protection of the individual’s rights – of course in close interaction with the courts, which will always have the final say in legal matters, but which are at the same time influenced and inspired by the legal conceptions of the Ombudsman in their practice. In addition, the Ombudsman institution must never become above debate and criticism itself – because there is always a potential problem in independent monitoring bodies: who monitors the monitors? It is therefore important to pay constructively critical attention to the Ombudsman institution as well. Other­ wise it is too easy to rely on familiar routines and established practice which could perhaps be improved. We would like to receive the respect which we and the institution deserve, but we also want to learn to become better where possible. Personally, I am deeply honoured by the trust shown by Parliament and I will do my best to prove myself worthy of it. The word ‘ombudsman’ should continue to be one of the best known Danish words in foreign continents because Denmark has developed and exported a good concept for the protection of the individual.