Conducted against the background of five ideal ombudsman models, this penetrating analysis of the European Ombudsman questions the fitness of this relatively new Community body, as currently constituted, to the activities of the Community authorities it is expected to supervise. The European Ombudsman is based on the Danish ombudsman plan, a redress' model designed to offer and facilitate alternative dispute resolution. Given the type of activities the Community performs, the author of this important study asks andndash; is a redress ombudsman in fact what the Community needs?...