All strategic inquiries
Beyond inquiries into specific complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions, the European Ombudsman also has the power to proactively work on broader strategic issues. The Ombudsman carries out strategic investigations on her own initiative, which aim to draw attention to matters of public interest and look into wider systemic issues affecting the EU institutions and the democratic decision-making process.
Showing 1 - 10 of 83 results
How EU agencies deal with ‘revolving door’ cases
Strategic Inquiry OI/5/2025/KR - Latest document added: Correspondence - Wednesday | 22 April 2026
This own-initiative inquiry examined how EU agencies manage ‘revolving door’ cases involving senior and/or managerial staff, as well as members of their governing bodies, who take up positions in the private sector after leaving their agency.
How the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission deal with requests for public access to legislative documents
Strategic Inquiry OI/4/2023/MIK - Latest document added: Correspondence - Wednesday | 20 August 2025
The Ombudsman conducted an own-initiative inquiry into how the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the European Commission handle requests for public access to legislative documents, which are subject to greater transparency obligations. The inquiry aimed to make a systemic assessment but focused on public access requests related to three recently adopted legislative acts.
How the European Commission deals with third parties paying for work travel and hospitality for its staff members and assessed potential conflicts of interest
Strategic Inquiry OI/1/2024/KR - Latest document added: Correspondence - Wednesday | 16 July 2025
In response to revelations that a (former) director-general at the European Commission travelled to Qatar and received related hospitality paid for by third parties, giving rise to conflict of interest concerns, the Commission updated its rules concerning third-party contributions to work travel. In the context of a previous initiative, the Ombudsman concluded that, if applied diligently, these ru...
How the European Commission applies the rules governing expert groups and other similar entities, notably as regards the transparency of the membership and deliberations of the groups
Strategic Inquiry OI/3/2024/KR - Latest document added: Correspondence - Friday | 11 July 2025
The Ombudsman opened an own-initiative inquiry to assess how the European Commission applies its rules concerning 'expert groups', which bring together external experts to provide advice to the Commission in different policy areas. In particular, the Ombudsman sought to assess the transparency of these groups, including regarding their membership and deliberations.
The transparency of the European Commission’s interactions with representatives of the tobacco industry
Strategic Inquiry OI/6/2021/KR - Latest document added: Correspondence - Thursday | 03 July 2025
This inquiry concerned the European Commission’s compliance with the provisions on tobacco lobbying, as set out in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the World Health Organization, notably concerning the transparency of its interactions with the tobacco industry. The Ombudsman’s previous work had demonstrated how the Commission’s Directorates-General for Health and Food Safety (...
The risk management of dangerous chemical substances by the European Commission
Strategic Inquiry OI/2/2023/MIK - Latest document added: Decision - Tuesday | 01 July 2025
This own-initiative inquiry concerned how the European Commission decides on applications submitted by companies for authorisations of specific uses of particularly dangerous chemical substances. According to the EU Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (the ‘REACH Regulation’), while this decision-making process is ongoing, companies that have subm...
How the European Commission intends to guarantee respect for human rights in the context of the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding
Strategic Inquiry OI/2/2024/MHZ - Latest document added: Correspondence - Tuesday | 29 April 2025
The Ombudsman has opened an own-initiative inquiry into how the European Commission intends to guarantee respect for human rights in the context of the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The inquiry follows on from a strategic initiative into the same issue.
How the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) complies with its fundamental rights obligations in the context of its search and rescue activities
Strategic Inquiry OI/3/2023/MHZ - Latest document added: Correspondence - Thursday | 05 December 2024
This own-initiative inquiry looked into how the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) ensures the respect of fundamental rights in the context of search and rescue (SAR) operations in the Mediterranean in the context of its surveillance activities and joint maritime operations with Member State authorities. The inquiry, which was launched partly in response to the tragic Pylos shipwreck...
The use by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) of remote testing in selection procedures to recruit EU civil servants
Strategic Inquiry OI/1/2023/VS - Latest document added: Correspondence - Wednesday | 26 June 2024
Following a significant number of complaints concerning the use by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) of remote testing in selection procedures to recruit EU civil servants, the Ombudsman carried out an own-initiative inquiry to look into the issues raised.
The time taken by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to deal with requests for public access to documents
Strategic Inquiry OI/4/2022/PB - Latest document added: Decision - Friday | 15 March 2024
The Ombudsman opened an own-initiative inquiry to look into how the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) deals with requests for public access to documents. The inquiry stemmed from information raised in a complaint to the Ombudsman about systematic delays and other issues in how Frontex handles public access requests.