# European Ombudsman > The European Ombudsman is an inter-institutional body of the European Union that holds the institutions, bodies and agencies of the EU to account, and promotes good administration. > The Ombudsman helps people, businesses and organisations facing problems with the EU administration by investigating complaints, as well as by proactively looking into broader systemic issues. **Role of the European Ombudsman:** The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body that holds the EU's institutions and agencies to account, and promotes good administration. The Ombudsman helps people, businesses, and organisations facing problems with the EU's administration by investigating complaints about maladministration by EU institutions and bodies, as well as by proactively looking into broader systemic issues. While the Ombudsman considers the EU to have good administrative standards already, she believes it has a duty to achieve the highest standard possible for the benefit of Europeans. **Teresa Anjinho's short biography:** Ms Anjinho is a lawyer, an independent human rights expert, and an academic specialising in public international law, gender, and equality. She has lectured at the NOVA School of Law and at the Ius Gentium Conimbrigae Institute of the University of Coimbra. She has also published several scientific papers. From 2022 to 2025, Ms Anjinho served as a Member of the Supervisory Committee of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). She previously held the positions of Deputy Ombudsperson of Portugal (2017-2022), Secretary of State for Justice in the Portuguese Government (2015), and Member of Parliament in Portugal (2011-2015). ## Make a complaint The European Ombudsman is unable to investigate complaints about the political actions, choices or decisions of the European Union or its institutions. The European Ombudsman cannot handle complaints about private entities, national or other public authorities in European Union Member States or international organisations. Before submitting a complaint, complainants must have already attempted to resolve the matter with the relevant European Union body through the proper channels. It is therefore important to attach to online complaints any such prior correspondence with the relevant European Union body. To ensure optimum service, only complaints submitted using [the online complaint form](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/make-a-complaint) or sent by post will be processed. Please note that complaints sent by email will not be accepted. - [Make a complaint](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/make-a-complaint): How to make a complaint to the European Ombudsman ## The European Ombudsman - [Current Ombudsman details](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/the-ombudsman): The role of the European Ombudsman along with a short biography of the current one, Teresa Anjinho - [Cabinet of the Ombudsman](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/the-ombudsman/cabinet) - [Biography of the Ombudsman](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/the-ombudsman/biography/en): Biography of Teresa Anjinho, the current European Ombudsman ## Office of the European Ombudsman - [Staff](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/office/staff) - [Working for the European Ombudsman](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/office/careers): Recruitment procedures along with available offers for traineeships or vacancies ## Areas of work - [Areas of work](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work) - [Access to documents](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work/access-to-documents): Public access to EU documents - [Accountability and inclusive decision-making](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work/accountability-and-inclusive-decision-making) - [Ethical issues](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work/ethical-issues) - [Management of EU funds](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work/management-of-eu-funds): Management of EU funds, including grants, procurement and contracts - [Fundamental rights](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work/fundamental-rights) - [Infringements of EU law](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work/infringement-complaints) - [Recruitment issues](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work/recruitment-issues) - [EU personnel issues](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/areas-of-work/eu-personnel-issues) ## Work of the Ombudsman - [How we work](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/how-we-work): How the Ombudsman deals with complaints - [Impact](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/impact): Examples of positive change in key areas of Ombudsman inquiries over recent years - [European Ombudsman strategy](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/our-strategy/strategy/en): The European Ombudsman's Strategy for the 2025-2029 mandate ## European Network of Ombudsman > Launched in 1996, the European Network of Ombudsmen (ENO) is an informal network for ombudsmen and similar bodies to exchange information on EU law and policy, and to share best practice. The European Ombudsman is responsible for the coordination of ENO. > The European Network of Ombudsmen consists of over 95 offices from 36 European countries, including the national and regional ombudsmen and similar bodies, as well as the European Ombudsman and the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament. The European Ombudsman coordinates the Network. - [About the European Network of Ombudsmen](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/european-network-of-ombudsmen/about/en) - [Members of the European Network of Ombudsmen](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/european-network-of-ombudsmen/members/all-members) ## History - [History](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/history): History of the European Ombudsman - [Biography of Jacob Söderman](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/history/past-ombudsmen/1/biography/en) - [Biography of P. Nikiforos Diamandouros](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/history/past-ombudsmen/2/biography/en) - [Biography of Emily O'Reilly](https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/history/past-ombudsmen/3/biography/en)