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Code of Good Administrative Behaviour and complaints

The Code helps ensure the principles of good administration are put into practice on a daily basis and that the Commission provides high quality services to the European public.

The Code of Good Administrative Behaviour

The European Commission is dedicated to the values of service, independence, responsibility, accountability, efficiency and transparency. These values are reflected in the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour, adopted by the Commission on 13 September 2000.

The Code informs the public of the standards of conduct to expect when dealing with the Commission.

It sets out the principles that guide the administrative conduct of the Commission services:

  • Lawfulness
  • Non-discrimination and equal treatment
  • Proportionality (measures taken should be proportional to the aim pursued)
  • Consistency.

Read the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour

Complaints procedure

If you consider that the Commission has breached its Code of Good Administrative Behaviour in dealing with the public, you can file a complaint. The European Commission will examine the complaint and respond to you.

How to file a complaint

You can file a complaint by post or by completing this online form.

The complaint form can either be sent electronically or in paper format. If you prefer to send a paper version, please print the form in RTF format and send to the Secretariat-General of the European Commission, which will forward it to the relevant Commission department:

Secretariat-General of the European Commission

Unit C.2 – Ethics, Good Administration & Relations with the European Ombudsman

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussels

Belgique//Belgium

Who will handle your complaint

The relevant Directorate-General or Department will analyse the substance of your complaint and respond to you in writing within 2 months.

If you are not satisfied with the reply, you have 1 month to ask the Secretary-General of the Commission to review the outcome of your complaint, starting from the date you received the response from the Commission to your initial complaint. The Secretary-General will reply to your request for review within a month.

Other ways to file a complaint

You can also file a complaint directly with the European Ombudsman. You can find practical information on how to do this on the website of the European Ombudsman