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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,
•
lack or refusal of information,
•
unnecessary delay,
•
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.
© EC
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Agencies
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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.
© EC
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