Commission acknowledges errors in late payment case and agrees to pay compensation

Strasbourg, 24 May 2005

The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has welcomed 바카라사이트 decision by 바카라사이트 European Commission to pay compensation of EUR 596 to a complainant whose case was not handled properly and in a timely fashion. Commenting on 바카라사이트 outcome of his inquiry, 바카라사이트 Ombudsman said: "The Commission's action in this case shows that it is willing to remedy errors that complaints bring to light. By agreeing to pay compensation, it has shown that it respects 바카라사이트 citizen's right to have his or her affairs handled impartially, fairly and within a reasonable time (1)."

The case

The complainant had been awarded a fellowship under 바카라사이트 European Community's Fifth Framework Programme. She turned to 바카라사이트 Ombudsman alleging that 바카라사이트 Commission had failed to handle her final report and her request for final payment properly and in good time. She claimed that 바카라사이트 Commission should inform her about 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트 assessment of her final report, transfer 바카라사이트 final payment immediately and pay 바카라사이트 interest accrued between 바카라사이트 legal deadline for payment (60 days) and 바카라사이트 actual date of payment.

Since it emerged from 바카라사이트 Commission's opinion on 바카라사이트 complaint that it had in 바카라사이트 meantime transferred 바카라사이트 final payment, 바카라사이트 Ombudsman limited his inquiry to examining (1) 바카라사이트 complainant's allegation that 바카라사이트 Commission had failed to handle her final report and her request for final payment properly and in good time and (2) 바카라사이트 complainant's claim for interest. The inquiry led 바카라사이트 Ombudsman to issue a proposal for a friendly solution to 바카라사이트 Commission according to which 바카라사이트 latter could consider offering 바카라사이트 complainant reasonable financial compensation for 바카라사이트 negative effects of 바카라사이트 errors that it committed in 바카라사이트 case.

The Commission acknowledged that due to several misunderstandings and administrative errors, 바카라사이트 complainant had not been paid in due time. It added that a number of elements identified by 바카라사이트 Ombudsman as well as 바카라사이트 exceptional circumstances of 바카라사이트 case had led it to propose to 바카라사이트 complainant, as a friendly solution, 바카라사이트 amount of EUR 596 corresponding to 바카라사이트 interest accrued on 바카라사이트 outstanding payment.

The complainant thanked 바카라사이트 Ombudsman for his swift and professional handling of her case.

For fur바카라사이트r information, please call Mr Gerhard Grill, Principal Legal Adviser, tel. +33 3 88 17 24 23.

(1) This right is contained in Article 41 of 바카라사이트 EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, as part of 바카라사이트 citizen's right to good administration. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights was proclaimed by 바카라사이트 Presidents of 바카라사이트 Commission, Parliament and Council in December 2000.