ABSTRACT

The Treaty on European Union 1992 introduced the office of ombudsman, appointed by the European Parliament. Under Article 195, the ombudsman is appointed for the life of a Parliament, and may be removed by the Court of Justice, at the request of the Parliament, on the basis that ‘he no longer fulfils the conditions required for the performance of his duties or if he is guilty of serious misconduct’. The ombudsman is completely independent in the exercise of his duties, and may not seek or take instructions from any body.