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Most viewed in EU governance
The first European ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, was elected by the European Parliament in July 1995 and took up his duties on 27 September. The ombudsman submits annual reports to the Parliament.
The ombudsman investigates complaints about the EU's institutions. Complaints can include abuse of power, discrimination, refusal to supply information, failure to reply, lengthy delays or irregularities in public administration.
Any EU citizen can make a complaint. In addition, the ombudsman receives complaints from staff working at the EU institutions about their employers.
After receiving a complaint, the ombudsman contacts the relevant institution and if an attempt at conciliation fails, he can make a recommendation to resolve the case. If the institution does not accept this recommendation, the ombudsman can submit a report to the Parliament.
The ombudsman has a staff of around 60 people with an annual budget of €8.5 million. The office's 2008 annual report will be published on 27 April.
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