The case concerned the handling by the Commission of a complaint concerning the complainant's exclusion from a network of experts due to his allegedly inappropriate behaviour. The Ombudsman inquired into the issue and found that the Commission's overall response to the allegations made against the complainant was inadequate. The Ombudsman found that the Commission had failed to carry out a thorough, objective and neutral assessment of the facts. The Ombudsman then made a proposal for a solution, which the Commission rejected. The Ombudsman has therefore decided to close the case with a finding of maladministration on the part of the Commission.