SUMMARIES OF SELECTED STATEMENTS H. MINISTRY OF ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS No statements on cases concluded in 2017 have been published. I. MINISTRY OF CULTURE The following statement on a case concluded in 2017 has been published: 2017-2. Invitations etc. to public employees were to be considered under the rules on acceptance of gifts – a legitimate purpose was a prerequisite for attendance Following a previous Ombudsman case (Case No. 2015-4) concerning the cir­cumstances under which employees were permitted to accept free tickets for events, the Ombudsman reviewed the gift policy of the Ministry of Culture in relation to acceptance of invitations, free tickets etc. In the Ombudsman’s opinion invitations, free tickets etc. received by public employees in connection with their work were to be considered individually and in accordance with the general principles of administrative law on acceptance of gifts and other benefits. This meant that invitations, free tickets etc. could not generally be regarded as given to the authority as such. If attendance of events served a legitimate purpose, such as official supervision of adherence to a contract, employees were permitted to accept such invitations etc. During its dialogue with the Ombudsman, the Ministry of Culture adjusted its gift policy. The Ministry also explained the special circumstances characterising its area of work. On that basis, the Ombudsman found no cause to take further action in relation to employees also being able to attend an event both because of the necessity of keeping up to date in their field of work and for representative reasons (the latter due to expectations by external parties that they attended). With regard to the question whether employees were permitted to bring a private companion, the Ombudsman agreed with the Ministry of Culture that this was not possible if an employee attended an event solely for the purpose of carrying out specific work activities or because of the necessity of keeping up to date. In the light of the circumstances, the Ombudsman found no cause to take further action in relation to employees in certain cases being able to bring a private companion to events which they attended also for representative reasons. 91