This book explores the work of the European Ombudsman and her or his contribution to holding the EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies to account, through examination of complaints on maladministration, own-initiative inquiries and other proactive efforts. It considers the Ombudsman¿s current institutional and constitutional position and her or his ¿method¿ of dealing with complaints, and unravels the depth of subject matters that fall under the Ombudsman¿s remit. A separate chapter focuses on transparency and access to documents. The last part of the book critically reflects upon the present mandate and practice of the Ombudsman, and discusses a number of possible proposals for improvement. This work has interdisciplinary appeal and will engage scholars in law, political science and public administration, as well as EU and national policy-makers.

1: Introduction: The office of the European Ombudsman in its third decade of operation.- 2: The institutional and constitutional position of the European Ombudsman.- 3: The link between the role of the European Ombudsman and democracy.- 4: Exploring the European Ombudsman's method: Analysis of cases.- 5: A case-study: Inquiries on transparency and access to documents.- 6: Revisiting the mandate and practice of the European Ombudsman.- 7: Conclusion.

Nikos Vogiatzis is Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Essex, UK. He was previously a Lecturer in Law at the University of Liverpool, UK; and he holds a PhD in Law from the University of Hull, an LLM in EU Law from ULB, and an LLB from the University of Athens. His research and teaching interests are in selected areas of EU administrative and constitutional law; EU governance (notably questions of participation, transparency and accountability); the role of ombudsman institutions and extra-judicial redress more generally; and the law of the ECHR.