Press Release: Ombudsman asks Commission to look at alternative ways of resolving disputes with contractors and sub-contractors

The European Ombudsman, Nikiforos Diamandouros, on 31 January 2006 opened an own-initiative inquiry into whether contractors or sub-contractors of the European Commission should have access to alternative methods of dispute resolution (ADR), such as mediation. The aim was to examine whether ADR could help promote a prompt and amicable resolution of contractual disputes.