INVITATION

What can the European Ombudsman do for SMEs?"

European SME Week 2009

Workshop
12 May, 10:00-11:00
Eastman Building (in Parc Léopold), Rue Belliard 135/137
Brussels

In this workshop, the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, will explain what he can concretely do for SMEs and discuss examples of cases he has dealt with.

The European Ombudsman receives more than 3 000 complaints each year from companies, citizens, associations and NGOs from all EU Member States. The Ombudsman investigates complaints against the EU administration, concerning, among others, lack of transparency in the EU institutions, late payments for EU projects, discrimination or unfairness. As a result of the Ombudsman's intervention, the EU administration has settled bills, paid interest, released documents, remedied injustices and put an end to discrimination.

The services of the Ombudsman are fast, free and flexible. Although his decisions are not legally binding, as a rule the EU administration reacts constructively to settle cases and agree friendly solutions with the complainant.

More than a quarter of the investigations opened by the Ombudsman are based on complaints from business, associations and other organisations. The Ombudsman manages to help around 80% of complainants by opening an inquiry into the case, transferring the complaint or advising the complainant where to turn for help. Often the advice is to contact a national or regional ombudsman in the Member State concerned.

The registration form is available at: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/shortcuts/document.faces/en/3874/pdf.bookmark

Please send the form by 30 April to: Cindy DE CARVALHO-GIANNAKIS, fax: +32 (0)2 284 9089