GREECE

The Greek Ombudsman

The Greek Ombudsman is an independent administrative authority. It was established by Law 2477/97 and began operating on 1 October 1998. In 2001 provisions on the institution were included in the Constitution of Greece and subsequently a new Law No. 3094 was adopted. The legal framework of the Greek Ombudsman includes also the Regulations of the Ombudsman, adopted in 1999.

The Ombudsman provides its services free of charge and received more than 17,000 complaints during its first two years of operation (from 1 October 1999 until 1 October 2001).

The Greek Ombudsman investigates individual administrative actions or omissions or material actions taken by government departments or public services that infringe upon the personal rights or violate the legal interests of individuals or legal entities.

Before submitting a complaint to the Greek Ombudsman, the complainant should first come into contact with the public service involved with his or her case. Only if the problem is not resolved by the service concerned should a complaint be submitted to the Ombudsman. Complaints are accepted from anyone, regardless of nationality, who has a problem with a Greek public service, anywhere in Greece or abroad.

The Greek Ombudsman mediates between public services and the public, monitoring that the law is respected in order to protect citizens' rights and combat maladministration.

Following a written complaint by any directly concerned person, or union of persons or legal entity (e.g. private company), the Greek Ombudsman will investigate the case if there has been: an administrative act or omission or a material action which infringes on the complainant's rights or violates his or her legal interests.

Contact information:
The Greek Ombudsman
Address: 5, Hadjiyanni Mexi Str., 115 28 Athens
Phone: (010) 728 96 00; 0801 11 25000
Fax: (010) 729 21 29
Web site: http://www.synigoros.gr