Strasbourg, 04/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - European Ombudsman, Jacob Söderman, has decided to open an own-initiative inquiry into the functioning of the Directorate for Resources of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) at Ispra, Italy. The Ombudsman, which gives the European Commission until 31 October to respond, calls on it to examine whether there is a need for more effective advice and guidance to staff or for changes to the administrative framework at the Joint Research Centre. Since 1995, the Ombudsman has opened no less than fifteen inquiries following complaints about the JCR. In six cases, maladministration was confirmed: - poor treatment of staff members or grant holders; - unacceptable recruitment procedures; - unfair contract clauses; - failure to state reasons for complainant who did not obtain a grant. "I trust that this inquiry will allow the Commission to tackle this problem at its root and to settle it", said Mr Söderman.