The European Network of Ombudsmen

The European Network of Ombudsmen consists of almost 90 offices in 31 European countries.

Within the Union, it covers the ombudsmen and similar bodies at the European, national, and regional levels.It also includes Norway, Iceland, and the applicant countries for EU membership.

Each of the bodies has appointed a liaison officer to act as a point of contact for other members of the Network.

The Network was established in 1996 and has steadily developed into a powerful collaboration tool for ombudsmen and their staff, serving as an effective mechanism for co-operation on case handling.

It is of particular importance to the European Ombudsman to enable him to deal promptly and effectively with complaints that fall outside his mandate.

Experiences and best practice are shared via meetings, a regular newsletter, an electronic discussion forum and a daily e-news service.