Ombudsman beslecht geschil tussen onderzoeksinstituut en Commissie (en)

EO/08/9

24 June 2008

Ombudsman helps settle payment dispute between research institute and Commission

After the intervention of the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, the European Commission settled a payment dispute with a Dutch research institute. This followed a complaint from the institute claiming that the Commission had not paid an outstanding sum of 288 000 EUR for a research project on human flu. The Commission explained that the institute's failure to submit all the necessary documents had caused the delay. After the Ombudsman's intervention, the Commission announced that it would unblock the payment. The Ombudsman commended the Commission for its efforts to assist the institute and to find a solution to the problem.

Research institute claims 288 000 EUR for human flu project

In 2004, a Dutch research institute signed a grant agreement with the European Commission for a research project on human flu. The grant was worth more than one million euro in total. The Dutch institute was the coordinator of the project, which included 34 other research institutes in the EU.

In December 2006, the Dutch institute turned to the Ombudsman, alleging that the Commission had made two interim payments but not paid a third instalment of 288 000 EUR.

In its opinion on the complaint, the Commission argued that it had not paid the third instalment because the institute had not yet delivered an adequate budget table for the project.

The Ombudsman inspected the relevant files and agreed with the Commission that an adequate budget table was still missing. He also noted that the Commission had, in the meantime, sent the necessary explanations to the institute to allow it to submit such a budget table. The Commission subsequently announced that it would, on the basis of the information received, unblock the final payment.

The Ombudsman concluded that the complainant's payment claim had been settled. He commended the Commission for its efforts to assist the institute, pointing out that he considered this manner of dealing with complainants as an example of "good administration".

To read the full case, please go to: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/decision/en/063794.htm

The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions and bodies. Any EU citizen, resident, or an enterprise or association in a Member State, can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman offers a fast, flexible and free means of solving problems with the EU administration. For more information: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu

For information on the case: Mr Fergal Ó Regan, Principal Legal Advisor, tel: +33 3 88 17 6784

For press inquiries: Ms Gundi Gadesmann, Press Officer, tel: +32 2 2842609