The Developing Role of the European Ombudsman

This chapter undertakes an assessment of the legal framework governing the mandate and capabilities as well as independence of the European Ombudsman (hereafter, the ‘Ombudsman’). To do so, the chapter takes a detailed look at, inter alia, EU ‘constitutional’ law, the Ombudsman’s existing procedures, the concept of ‘maladministration’ as expressed in the Ombudsman’s mandate, and the consequences of an Ombudsman finding of maladministration. On this basis the chapter discusses future possibilities for developing ombuds review in the European Union (EU) as well as Ombudsman O’Reilly’s stated ambition to increase the visibility of the Ombudsman and the impact of ombuds review in the context of more high-profile, and often ‘political’, investigations.