Ombudsmanden skal i overensstemmelse med sit hverv foretage de undersøgelser, som han eller hun finder berettigede, enten på eget initiativ eller på grundlag af de klager, der forelægges ham eller hende direkte eller gennem et medlem af Europa-Parlamentet, medmindre de påståede forhold er under eller har været under retslig behandling.  
In accordance with his or her duties, the Ombudsman shall conduct inquiries for which he or she finds grounds, either on his or her own initiative or on the basis of complaints submitted to him or her direct or through a member of the European Parliament, except where the alleged facts are or have been the subject of legal proceedings.  