What does the European What are the institutions Who can complain Ombudsman do? and bodies of the EU? to the Ombudsman? The European Ombudsman investigates complaints against The institutions and bodies of the EU include the: If you are a citizen of a Member State of the Union or the institutions and bodies of the European Union (EU). You reside in a Member State, you can make a complaint to (EPSO) ce ■ European Parliament can complain to the Ombudsman about maladministration the European Ombudsman about maladministration in ■ in the activities of these institutions and bodies. Council of the European Union the activities of the EU institutions and bodies. Businesses, ce (OLAF) ce ■ European Commission associations or other bodies with a registered offi ce in the The European Ombudsman cannot investigate complaints (Europol) ce Union may also complain to the Ombudsman. ......................................................................... against national, regional or local administrations in the ■ Court of Justice of the European Communities Member States, even when the complaints are about EU (except in its judicial role) ................................................................................. matters. Many of these complaints could be addressed ■ European Court of Auditors What result can you expect? to national or regional ombudsmen or committees on .................................................................................................. .................................................................................................. ■ European Investment Bank Investment European Bank Central European Selection Offi Personnel European Offi Anti-Fraud European Offi Police European Other Union body (please specify) petitions in national or regional parliaments. Contact details European Economic and Social Committee .......................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................... ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................. for all national and regional ombudsmen and committees .............................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................. ■ Committee of the Regions of the European Union The Ombudsman may simply need to inform the ® ® ® ® ® ® ........................................................................................................................ on petitions in the EU are available on the European ......................................................................................................................... ■ institution concerned about a complaint in order for Ombudsman’s website: European Investment Bank it to resolve the problem. If the case is not resolved http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu ■ European Central Bank satisfactorily during the course of the inquiries, ■ European Personnel Selection Offi ce (EPSO) the Ombudsman will try, if possible, to fi nd a friendly solution which puts right the case of maladministration all the documents necessary support to complaint. your What is maladministration? ■ European Anti-Fraud Offi ce (OLAF) form. lling out this complaint and satisfi es the complainant. If the attempt at ■ European Police Offi ce (Europol) conciliation fails, the Ombudsman can make recommendations to solve the case. If the institution does Maladministration means poor or failed administration. ■ Decentralised agencies (such as the European not accept his recommendations, he can make a special This occurs if an institution fails to act in accordance Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, report to the European Parliament. with the law, fails to respect the principles of good the European Environment Agency, the Offi ce for administration, or violates human rights. Some examples are: Harmonisation in the Internal Market, etc.) .............................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................. ■ administrative irregularities Please note that this list is not exhaustive. An overview of the EU institutions and bodies is available on the Europa ■ unfairness website: http://www.europa.eu .............................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................. ■ ............................................................................................................................. discrimination .............................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................. .............................................................................................................................. ■ .............................................................................................................................. abuse of power Parliament European Union of the European Council Commission European (*) Communities Court of the European of Justice Court of Auditors European and Social Economic Committee European Union of the European of the Regions Committee .............................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................. ■ failure to reply name: First Surname: On behalf of (if applicable): line 1: Address line 2: Address Town/City: County/State/Province: Postcode: Country: Tel.: Fax: E-mail: complain? wish to Union (EU) institution or body do you which European Against ® ® ® ® ® ® ® in its judicial role. (*) Except of it? aware become When did you complain? about which you What is the decision or matter that the EU institution or body has done wrong? consider What do you ■ refusal of information Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary on a separate Please continue and enclose The European Ombudsman The European ABOUT MALADMINISTRATION COMPLAINT fi before complain’ to ‘How the sectionPlease read entitled ■ 2 unnecessary delay 1 3 4 OOPO50400_Ombudsman_EN.inddPO50400_Ombudsman_EN.indd 2 110/10/060/10/06 220:53:240:53:24 10 QK-72-05-015-EN-D 6 5 9 8 7 How to complain How to contact the European Ombudsman The European Ombudsman ( Article co may personal data which the complaint 5 (d) of Regulation (EC) the Ombudsman dealing publicly with any No 45/2001 to personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1). L 8, 12.1.2001, p. of such data (OJ movement institutions and bodies on the free the Community personal data by The European Ombudsman — 1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman — B.P. 403 — FR- 67001 Strasbourg Cedex — France Cedex 403 — FR- 67001 Strasbourg Robert Schuman du Président — B.P. Ombudsman — 1 Avenue European The Regulation (EC) by No 45/2001 ( Ombudsman is governed of perso processing The party. a third or to the complainant, to personal data relating contain the Ombudsman may to Complaints the identifi decisions on confi Ombudsman’s The an inquiry. begins a confi even However, the other documents mentioned above. or to be dealt with confi that his or her complaint request has the right to A complainant name or addr publications do not include the complainant’s These and electronic formats. or in summary copy full, in hard form, name remove with the complainant’s published on his website are decisions on complaints Ombudsman’s The on request. access have which any public documents to are website) on the Ombudsman’s mentioned in Article (available 14 of the Implementing Provisions observations any as the complainant, on the complaint, on the opinion made by the opinion of institution or body concerned If th and its annexes. the complaint to access have member of the public may means that any with a complaint ‘Dealing publicly’ normally dealt with publicly. documents) are annexed Ombudsman (and any the European to Complaints obtain redress? to in order contacted the EU institution or body concerned already you Have put things right? should the institution or body do to view, What, in your Date and signature: Date deal with it? Ombudsman decides that he is not entitled to or national), if the European another institution or body (European be passed on to may complaint that your agree Do you Please select a court? a court been settled by already or is it pending before Has the object complaint of your expired? institutions already in the Staff for provided and complaints requests administrative inter used all the possibilities for you with the EU institutions and bodies: have relationships work If concerns the complaint 1 ) Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European