Файл: 02_EU_institutions.pdf

The position of European Ombudsman was 
created by the Treaty on European Union in 
1992. The Ombudsman acts as an intermedi-
ary between the citizen and the EU author-
ities. He is entitled to receive and investigate 
complaints  from  EU  citizens,  businesses 
and organisations, and from anyone resid-
ing or having their registered offi ce in an EU 
country.

The Ombudsman is elected by the European 
Parliament for a renewable term of fi ve years, 
which corresponds to Parliament’s legisla-
tive term. Nikiforos Diamandouros took up 
the post of European Ombudsman in April 
2003 and was re-elected in January 2005 for 
a fi ve-year term.

What does the Ombudsman do?

He investigates maladministration in the Euro-
pean Union institutions and bodies. Maladmin-
istration means poor or failed administration 
– in other words, when an institution fails to 

act in accordance with the law, or fails to re-
spect the principles of good administration, or 
violates human rights. Some examples are:

•

 unfairness,

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discrimination,

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abuse of power,

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lack or refusal of information,

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unnecessary delay,

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incorrect procedures.

The Ombudsman carries out investigations 
following a complaint or on his own initia-
tive. He operates completely independent-
ly and impartially. He does not request or 
accept instructions from any government or 
organisation.

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ROLE //

To uncover cases of maladministration and propose solutions

TERM OF OFFICE //

Five years, renewable

ADDRESS //

 1, Avenue du Président Robert Schuman, BP 403
F-67001 Strasbourg

TEL. //

(33) 388 17 23 13

INTERNET //

 ombudsman.europa.eu

The European 
Ombudsman: 

investigating your 
complaints

KEY FACTS

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How do I complain to the 
Ombudsman?

If you want to complain about maladminis-
tration by an EU institution or body, the fi rst 
thing to do is contact that institution or body 
through the usual administrative channels and 
try to get them to put the situation right.

If that approach fails, you can complain to the 
European Ombudsman.

You must make your complaint to the Om-
budsman within two years of the date 
on which you became aware of the act of 
maladministration. You must clearly state 
who you are, which institution or body you 
are complaining about, and what problem you 
are complaining about. You may ask for the 
complaint to remain confi dential.

For practical guidance on making your 
complaint, go to the Ombudsman’s website: 

ombudsman.europa.eu

What result can I expect?

If the Ombudsman cannot deal with your 
complaint — for example, if it has already 
been the subject of a court case — he will do 
his best to advise you which other body may 
be able to help. 

To resolve your problem, the Ombudsman 
may simply need to inform the institution or 
body concerned. If the problem is not cleared 
up during his inquiries, the Ombudsman will 
try to fi nd a friendly solution which puts the 
matter right and satisfi es you.

If this fails, the Ombudsman can make 
recommendations to resolve the issue. If 
the institution concerned does not accept 
his recommendations, he can make a spe-
cial report to the European Parliament 
so that it can take whatever political action 
is necessary.

Every year, the Ombudsman presents the 
European Parliament with a report on all his 
work.

If your file is not getting the right attention, the Ombudsman is there to help.

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The EDPS checks that there are no abuses of personal 
privacy rights when illegal immigrants and asylum 
seekers have their fingerprints taken.

© Bilderbo

x

The position of European Data Protection 
Supervisor (EDPS) was created in 2001. The 
responsibilities of the EDPS are to make sure 
that the EU institutions and bodies respect 
the right to privacy when processing personal 
data.

What does the EDPS do?

When EU institutions and bodies process per-
sonal data about an identifi able person, they 
must respect that person’s right to privacy. 
The EDPS makes sure they do.

‘Processing’ covers activities such as collect-
ing data, recording and storing them, retriev-
ing them for consultation, sending them or 
making them available to other people, and 
also blocking, erasing or destroying them.

There are strict privacy rules governing these 
activities. For example, EU institutions and 
bodies are, in general, not allowed to pro-
cess personal data that reveal your racial or 
ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or 

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The European Data 
Protection Supervisor:

safeguarding your 
privacy

KEY FACTS

ROLE //

To protect personal data processed by the EU institutions

TERM OF OFFICE //

Five years, renewable

ADDRESS //

Rue Wiertz 60, MO 63, B-1047 Brussels

TEL. //

(32-2) 283 19 00

INTERNET //

 edps.europa.eu

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philosophical beliefs or trade union mem-
bership. 

The EDPS works with the data protection 
offi cers  in  each  EU  institution  or  body  to 
ensure that the privacy rules are applied.

The EDPS gives advice on all matters that 
concern the processing of personal data — 
both on processing done by the EU institu-
tions and bodies, and on proposals for new 
legislation. It cooperates with national protec-
tion authorities in the EU countries, as well as 
with other actors in this fi eld.

In 2004, Peter Johan Hustinx was appointed 
as European Data Protection Supervisor.

How can the EDPS help you?

If you have reason to believe that your right to 
privacy has been infringed by an EU institution 
or body, you should fi rstly address the people 
responsible for the processing. If you are not 
satisfi ed with the outcome, you should con-
tact the relevant data protection offi cer (the 
names can be found on the EDPS website).

You can also complain to the European Data 
Protection Supervisor, who will investigate 
your complaint and let you know the outcome 
as soon as possible. The EDPS can, for exam-
ple, order the institution or body concerned to 
correct, block, erase or destroy personal data 
that have been unlawfully processed.

If you disagree with his decision, you may take 
the matter to the Court of Justice.

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An agency is not an EU institution: it is a 
body set up by a specifi c piece of EU leg-
islation to carry out a particular task. Not 
all EU agencies have the word ‘agency’ 
in their offi cial title: they may instead be 
called, for example, a centre, foundation, 
institute, or offi ce.

Community Fisheries Control Agency 
(CFCA)

Location: 

Vigo, Spain 

(provisional headquarters: Brussels, Belgium), 
ec.europa.eu/cfca/index_en.htm

This agency promotes and coordinates effective 
and uniform compliance with the rules of the 
common fi sheries policy, in particular the 
protection of fi sh stocks.

Community Plant Variety Offi ce 
(CPVO) 

Location: 

Angers, France 

www.cpvo.europa.eu

The CPVO administers a system of plant variety 
rights, equivalent to a patent for new plant 
varieties. These are protected for 25 or 30 years 
depending on the type of plant.

Education, Audiovisual and Culture 
Executive Agency (EACEA)

Location: 

Brussels, Belgium 

eacea.ec.europa.eu

This agency manages the practical aspects of the 
EU programmes which provide funding for youth, 
student and teacher programmes, and cultural 
and media activities.

Eurojust 

Location: 

The Hague, Netherlands 

eurojust.europa.eu

Eurojust helps investigators and prosecutors 
across the EU work together in fi ghting cross-
border crime. It plays a key role in the exchange of 
information and extradition.

European Agency for the Management 
of Operational Coordination at the 
External Borders of the Member States 
of the EU (Frontex)

Location: 

Warsaw, Poland 

frontex.europa.eu

Frontex assists the EU countries in implementing 
EU rules on external border controls consistently 
and in returning illegal immigrants to their 
countries of origin. 

European Agency for Reconstruction 
(EAR)

Location: 

Thessaloniki, Greece 

ear.europa.eu

The EAR manages EU programmes for providing 
assistance with reconstruction, and economic and 
social development, to war-damaged countries in 
the Balkan region. 

European Agency for Safety and 
Health at Work (OSHA)

Location: 

Bilbao, Spain 

osha.europa.eu

This agency pools and raises awareness of 
knowledge and information on health and safety 
at work, with an emphasis on creating a culture of 
effective prevention. 

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