The European ombudsman and the internal market : where is the connection?

Abstract

In this chapter, the author argues that with the European Commission – overseer of the Internal Market – accused, amongst other things, of being caught ‘asleep at the wheel’, the need arose for the creation of yet another institution to watch over the European Commission, to continuously prompt the European Commission and putting right any shortcomings will lead to the same European Commission’s performance improving, to the benefit of the Internal Market and European integration in general, and of the European Citizen. This role was awarded to the European Ombudsman, who has devised methods for going about this, including rather subtle ones.