The European Ombudsman, has expressed his concern about the problems encountered by the European Commission in paying its bills on time. In 2007, delays occurred in more than one out of five cases and the average delay amounted to 48 days in a report submitted on the 7th July.

The Ombudsman commended the Commission for the measures already taken to reduce payment delays. The Ombudsman announced that new investigation in early 2009 when figures for the Commission's performance in 2008 become available.

The most important results of this latest investigation were the following (as regards of 2007):

• Late payment continues to constitute a serious problem in the Commission although progress has been made.
• Delays involving more than 22 % of all payments made by the Commission.
• Average delay amounted to 48 days.
• It concerned smaller amounts for citizens or small and medium-sized companies or associations.

The European Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration in the EU institutions and bodies. Any EU citizen, resident, or an enterprise or association in a Member State, can lodge a complaint with the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman offers a fast, flexible and free means of solving problems with the EU administration.