Complaints: in what circumstances?
The Code of Administrative Conduct enables
members of the public to file a complaint where the European Commission is in
breach of it, which means that failure to comply with the principles of sound
administration set out in the Code can be sanctioned.
How can you file a complaint?
A complaint can be filed by ordinary letter or on the
special form. The form is not compulsory but it has been designed so as to
help complainants make their complaints in a structured way. You are
recommended to use it is you can.
The complaint form can be sent in electronically
or on paper (if you prefer to do this, just print out the form
in the PDF format).
To whom should you send your complaint ?
Complaints should be sent to the European
Commission's Secretariat-General. They will then
be passed on to the official responsible for coordinating the handling of
complaints in the various Commission departments.
Who will handle the complaint, and how long
will it take?
The relevant Director-General or Head of
Department will investigate the substance of the complaint and answer the
complainant in writing within two months.
What redress procedures are available, and
how much time is allowed for asking for the complaint to be reviewed?
The complainant has one month to ask the
Commission's Secretary-General to review the complaint; time runs from the
date when the answer to the complaint was received. The Secretary-General must
answer the request for a review within one month.
Are there any other ways of filing
complaints?
A complaint can also be filed
with the European
ombudsman in accordance with Article
195 of the Treaty establishing the European Community and the
Statute of the European Ombudsman.
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