The European Ombudsman

http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/home.faces

The European Ombudsman is based in Strasbourg. The office was created by the Maastricht treaty of 1992.
The Ombudsman is empowered to receive complaints from any citizen of the Union or any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a member state concerning instances of maladministration in the activities of the community institutions or bodies. Following institutions can be controled:

• European commission
• Concil of the European Union
• European Parliament
• European Court of Justice (when not acting in its judicial role)
• European Central Bank
• European Court of Auditors
• Committee of the regions
• European Investment Bank
• European Economic and social Commitee
• The Agencies (European Environment agency, etc.)

In accordance with his duties, the Ombudsman conducts inquiries for which he finds grounds, either on his own initiative or on the basis of complaints submitted to him direct or through a member of the European Parliament, except where the alleged facts are or have been the subject of legal proceedings. Where the Ombudsman establishes an instance of maladministration, he refers the matter to the institution concerned, which has a period of three months in which to inform him of its views. The Ombudsman shall then forward a report to the European Parliament and the institution concerned.
The Ombudsman shall be completely independent in the performance of his duties. In the performance of those duties he shall neither seek nor take instructions from anybody.