providing valuable suggestions for future investigative proceedings by the AOB. And in the sector of building and regional planning law, the competent authorities also do not always react to problems with the necessary efficiency. Builder-owners often ignore statutory provisions; construction carried out without any kind of building permit is not a rare occurrence and arbitrary deviations from approved plans are not uncommon. To the great annoyance of the residents, subsequently made application amendments and building inspection proceedings can drag on for years. Also zoning proceedings lead to conflicts more and more often. This was why Ombudswoman Gertrude Brinek held a roundtable in November 2011 on the subject “Building Code – Building Permit – Building Practice. Law and reality in Austria”. AOB experts presented exemplary cases handled by the AOB. Dr. Josef Hauser, Regional Ombudsman of Tyrol, as well as jurisprudence experts and academics shed light on current developments in this area of law. Whether in the context of consultation days, at panel discussions or as event host, it is especially important for the members of the AOB to facilitate ongoing dialogue with the public and to actively make contact with the various target groups who all have their own respective needs regarding information. The members of the AOB are often asked to make presentations, host expert conferences or participate in events. For example, Ombudsman Kostelka spoke at a conference about “The new EU architecture of fundamental rights after the Lisbon Treaty” in April 2011. In August 2011, Ombudswoman Brinek and the Serbian Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic were invited by the European Forum Alpbach to discuss the contribution of ombudsman institutions in achieving a better access to justice. In December 2011, Ombudswoman Stoisits took part in a panel discussion about “The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and human rights policies in Europe”. All AOB members took the opportunity in 2011 to discuss issues related to democracy and parliamentarism with school groups within the scope of so-called “Democracy Workshops”. Consultation days in the federal Laender were also utilised to discuss community issues. Ombudswoman Brinek: Focus on building law Dialogue with the public 25