The European Mediator handles disputes between European citizens and community institutions.
The aim of the Institution is to contribute to the development of democracy and the reinforcement of the rule of law.
The office has existed since the Treaty on the European Union signed at Maastricht in 1992.
P. Nikiforos Diamandouros has been the European Mediator since 1 April 2003, having previously been the top national mediator in Greece from 1998 to 2003.
The office of the European Mediator was instituted by the Treaty on the European Union, signed at Maastricht on 7 February 1992.
Elected by the European Parliament for five years, the European mediator exercises his duties in complete independence, in the general interest of the European Union and its citizens.
• He attempts to settle amicably disputes between citizens and the European institutions
• He assumes a liaison role and participates in the work of national mediation institutions
• He proposes reforms for Europe
• The citizens of the European Union,
• Foreign persons residing in the European Union,
• Enterprises, associations and bodies with their headquarters in the European Union.
• Directly, by sending a detailed complaint,
• Through the intermediary of a member of the European Parliament.
The Ombudsman of the Republic maintains regular contact with hundreds of national and regional counterparts from EU countries. He is with his colleagues from Belgium, Luxembourg and Rhineland, a member of the network of ombudsmen of the Greater Region, established to facilitate the joint processing of cross-border cases. Above all, the networking of all the employees/partners of mediators from Europe, facilitated by the Office of the Ombudsman, Mr. Nikiforos Diamandouros, allows a unique exchange of information and experiences. This legal intelligence at European level, as well as willingness to learn from current experiences in other comparable institutions, are essential in an environment characterized by the presence of EU law and freedom of movement. It was then built up over the years, a "network" of mediators from the European Union endow with a genuine expertise, including implementation of EU legislation in member countries.
These mediators and ombudsmen, joined by those of countries applying for EU, meet every two years. Besides, in October 2007 France welcomed a seminar in Strasbourg.
On November 4th 2009, the AOM inaugurated its headquarters in Tangier (Morocco).
