ABSTRACT
The impact of the European Ombudsman1 on the role of Article 226 is important in relation to three of its functions: as a forum for citizeninstitution interaction; as an administrative and regulatory tool; and as a forum of debate, control and accountability in which other institutional actors may attempt to control the discharge of public power by the Commission when it exercises its guardian function. These aspects of Article 226 are left largely unexplored by the Commission’s policy statements, but are nonetheless crucial if the role of Article 226 can be explained with reference to principles of good governance and legitimacy.
