Parliamentary Ombudsman appointed Vice President of IOI European Region Board

Parliamentary Ombudsman appointed Vice President of IOI European Region Board

Published July 15, 2025

The Parliamentary Ombudsman of Malta, Judge Joseph Zammit McKeon, has been appointed Vice Regional President of the European Regional Board of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). His appointment follows a decision by the European Regional Board during a meeting held yesterday and reflects the growing recognition of Malta’s active participation in international Ombudsman fora.

The IOI’s European Regional Board is composed of seven Directors representing Ombudsman institutions across Europe. Of these, five are also elected to serve on the IOI’s global Board of Directors. Judge Zammit McKeon was elected to the European Board and the Global IOI Board in December 2023, following an election involving over 90 Ombudsman institutions and human rights bodies from across Europe.

Judge Zammit McKeon succeeds Mr Marc Bertrand, Ombudsman of Wallonia and of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Belgium, whose term as Ombudsman expired earlier this year. In accepting the appointment, Judge Zammit McKeon expressed his sincere gratitude to his fellow Board members for their trust and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the objectives of the IOI and promoting good governance and the protection of rights throughout Europe.

Established in 1978, the International Ombudsman Institute is the leading global organisation for independent Ombudsman institutions. With over 200 members from more than 100 countries, the IOI provides a platform for collaboration, capacity-building, and the promotion of best practices through training, research, and project support. Its six regional chapters ensure that regional priorities are addressed within the broader framework of international cooperation.