Ms Nadine Mailloux, President of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), and Mr Reinier van Zutphen, European Regional President of the IOI, have requested the Venice Commission to provide clarification on the interpretation of Principles 6,7, 10 and 13 of the Principles on the Protection and Promotion of the Ombudsman Institution (the Venice Principles), an international set of standards dedicated to the ombudsman institution. The principles concerned relate to the election, selection procedure and transparency of the Ombudsman, the term of office and the question of reappointment and the mandate of the Ombudsman in respect of services delivered by private entities.