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Complaints

I) Making a complaint to the European Institute of Innovation & Technology

To make a complaint to the EIT about any aspect of its work, please write to the EIT. It is important to follow the Complaint guidelines set out below.  Note that whilst contributing to a common mission, the EIT's Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) are separate legal entities, independent from the EIT. Therefore, should you wish to submit a complaint, kindly address this directly to the EIT KIC concerned.  

Complaint guidelines

Please provide the following information:

  • Your identity (first name, family name, contact details, employer/organisation (if relevant), etc.);
  • The reason for your complaint
  • The result you are hoping to achieve by filing a complaint
  • Any relevant supporting documentation or references to documentation (links to websites or publications, product name, EIT reference number, documents, etc.)
  • Ensure the subject line of your email contains the word 'COMPLAINT' (for your convenience, email created using this link will already contain 'COMPLAINT')
  • Clearly indicate whether you want to request confidential treatment of your complaint or certain parts thereof AND provide supporting reasoning or justification

Your complaint must be raised within two years of the date on which you were informed of or became aware of the facts on which your complaint is based. 

How will the EIT handle my complaint?

The EIT will acknowledge receipt of your complaint in writing within two weeks, unless it lacks sufficient information (see the 'Complaint guidelines' above), or your complaint is considered abusive, excessive in number, repetitive or pointless in character: in these cases, the EIT will not process the correspondence received.

The EIT commits to reply within two months of receipt of a complete complaint. This deadline may be extended depending on the complexity of the case.

The EIT commits to handle your complaint in line with the EIT's Ethical and Organisational Code of Conduct.

II) Making a complaint to Knowledge & Innovation Communities

Please note that, while the EIT has no direct competence with regard to complaints against the activities of the KICs since they are separate legal entities and independent from the EIT, we would like to help you find a resolution to your complaint.

Therefore, in the section below you will find information and suggestions on the submission of a complaint in relation to the KICs’ activities.

1. Contact the relevant KIC

2. File a complaint against the KIC

Please specify the subject matter and the reason for your complaint:

  • Calls launched by the KICs: Please follow the complaint procedure set out in the related call.
  • Partnership management: Please follow the complaint procedure indicated on the KIC’s website for the entry/exit of partners.
  • Staff matters: (contract of employment, selection/recruitment procedure, conflict of interest, etc.): For selection/recruitment procedures, please follow the complaint procedure set out in the vacancy notice.
  • Governance: (selection procedure, decision-making, conflict of interest, etc.)
  • Irregularities/Fraud: Allegations related to irregularities and/or fraud shall be addressed to any of the following actors: KIC Anti-fraud coordinator, or EIT anti-fraud coordinator (eit-antifraud@eit.europa.eu), or OLAF
  • Procurement: Please follow the complaint procedure set out in the related call for tenders.
  • Access to documents/request for information

3. Other means of redress

Please note that complaints related to the activities of the KICs should be raised with the relevant KIC in the first instance, and should you remain dissatisfied, and where applicable, with the appropriate national non-judicial or judicial competent authority.

You may also inform the EIT if you encounter difficulties in lodging your complaint. The EIT will take due account of this information as part of its monitoring and control activities over the KICs.


European Ombudsman

If you are not satisfied with your response from the EIT, you may lodge a complaint with the European Ombudsman:

European Ombudsman
1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman
CS 30403
67001 Strasbourg Cedex
FRANCE

Website: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu

Any complaint lodged with the Ombudsman must be preceded by the appropriate administrative approaches to the institutions and bodies concerned.


Appeals on recruitment decisions

Candidates who wish to appeal on decisions made during recruitment procedures should write to the chairman of the selection committee within 20 days of the postmark on the letter of notification.

If a candidate considers that he or she has been adversely affected by a recruitment decision, he or she can: