The ombudsman of the European Union and the protection of the rights of individual subjects

Abstract

The European Ombudsman is an institution of the EU established in Jun 1995. by the European Parliament on the basis of the articles 8d and 138e of the EC Treaty amended in Maastricht, and of the principles of Statute of European Ombudsman. The most important task of the European Ombudsman is to deal with maladministration in the activities of the Community institutions and bodies. Possible instances of maladministation come into attention of the Ombudsman through complaints made by European Union citizens, or on the basis of his own-inquire. Any citizen of EU or non-citizen living in a Member State, or associations or other bodies with registered office in the Union can make a complaint to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can deal with complaints that are within his mandate and which meet the criteria of admissibility; he conducts an inquiry in such cases. Up to now, European Ombudsman conducted 432 inquires, and concluded them with friendly solutions, critical remarks and draft recommendations - the remedies which are on Ombudsman disposal.

Zaštita ljudskih prava nije utvrđena kao jedan od osnovnih ciljeva Evropske unije. Ona se, međutim, sve više nameće sa jačanjem ove nadnacionalne međunarodne organizacije i širenjem oblasti njenog delovanja. Njen značaj je postao posebno velik sa uvođenjem kategorije državljana EU, i stvaranjem posebnog organa koji se bavi upravo zaštitom njihovih prava. U ovom tekstu se pažnja posvećuje pravnim osnovama, načinu rada i dosadašnjim rezultatima delovanja tog organa - Ombudsmana Evropske unije.