How to File a Complaint with the European Ombudsman

Have you ever felt that an EU institution treated you unfairly — maybe ignored your emails, took months to reply, or refused to explain a decision? You have a free, independent route to challenge that: the European Ombudsman. This office exists specifically to hold EU bodies accountable to you.

The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about 'maladministration' — that is, poor or unfair administration — by EU institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies. Examples include the European Commission, the European Parliament, and EU agencies such as the European Medicines Agency. It does not cover national governments or courts.

Any EU citizen can complain, wherever in Europe they live — whether you are in Tallinn, Seville, or Galway. Non-EU nationals who live or have a registered office in an EU member state can also file a complaint. Businesses, associations, and other organisations are equally eligible.

You do not need a lawyer, and the service is completely free. The Ombudsman's office handles correspondence in all 24 official EU languages, so you can write in your own language.

Maladministration covers a wide range of behaviour: unnecessary delays, refusal to provide information you are entitled to, discrimination, abuse of power, or failure to follow proper procedures. For example, if you applied for an EU-funded grant and the administering agency never acknowledged your application or explained why it was rejected, that could qualify.

The Ombudsman cannot overturn decisions made by EU courts, and it cannot investigate complaints about national authorities even when those authorities are applying EU law. If your issue is with, say, the Spanish tax office or a German ministry, you would need a national ombudsman instead.

Before you file, you must first contact the EU institution concerned and give it a chance to put things right. Keep a record of that contact — dates, reference numbers, any replies — because you will need it. The Ombudsman generally requires you to have tried to resolve the issue directly first.

Once you have done that, go to the Ombudsman's website (ombudsman.europa.eu) and use the online complaint form. You will need to identify the institution you are complaining about, describe what happened, explain what you asked the institution to do, and attach any supporting documents. You must submit your complaint within two years of becoming aware of the problem.

After submission, the Ombudsman reviews whether the complaint falls within its mandate. If it does, an inquiry opens and the institution is asked to respond. The process typically takes several months. The Ombudsman can recommend solutions, issue criticism, or — in serious cases — send a special report to the European Parliament. While the Ombudsman cannot impose legally binding penalties, EU institutions almost always cooperate.

“Good administration is not a favour — it is your right as a European citizen.”

Filing a complaint costs you nothing and requires no legal expertise. If an EU body has treated you poorly, the European Ombudsman is a straightforward, accessible tool that puts accountability within reach of every citizen.