Advice and complaints

Here you will find information about EU institutions and Swedish agencies that can answer questions about laws and rules that apply in the EU and its member states. You will also find information about where to turn to submit complaints about EU institutions or an EU country. Furthermore, there is information about who to contact if you consider that a Swedish public agency has breached EU rules.

General information and statistics

EU information near you

The European Commission has local information offices and document centres across Europe which can answer questions about the EU, provide guidance to various EU programmes and rules and help you find EU documents.

Contacts in Sweden on the European Commission website (in Swedish)

Help in finding EU statistics from Statistics Sweden

Eurostat – the EU statistics office – produces freely available statistics within various subject areas. Statistics Sweden can guide you through statistics from the EU.

EU statistics on the Statistics Sweden website

Your Europe provides advice

Advice to the public from Your Europe

Your Europe is a service established by the European Commission, to which members of the public can turn with their questions to independent legal experts. They are well acquainted with EU legislation and national legislation in the member states.

Advice on the Your Europe website (in Swedish)

Justice portal for legal information

The European e-Justice Portal

The European e-Justice Portal makes it easier to find legal information about the EU. EU citizens and businesses can, for example, receive information about member states’ legal systems, courts in other EU countries, when and how to request legal help and contact information to lawyers in another EU country.

The e-Justice Portal on the EU website

Make a complaint about an EU country

The European Commission receives complaints

If you consider that an EU country, for example Sweden, has breached EU rules or applied rules incorrectly, you can make a complaint with the European Commission. The Commission may then examine the matter and may, as a last resort, bring an action against the country in the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Infringement proceedings on the European Commission website

Make a complaint about an EU institution

The European Ombudsman receives complaints

The European Ombudsman receives complaints from EU citizens about EU institutions and bodies. You can, for example, submit a complaint if you feel that you have received unfair treatment by an EU institution, that you have not received the information you are entitled to, or that an EU institution has been too slow in its handling of a matter.

The European Ombudsman website

Make a complaint about a Swedish public agency

The Parliamentary Ombudsmen receive complaints

If you consider that a Swedish public agency has failed to observe EU rules and you are unable to resolve the issue through your own contacts with the agency, you can turn to the Parliamentary Ombudsmen (JO) in Sweden. The Parliamentary Ombudsmen examine whether Swedish public agencies and officials have complied with laws and ordinances, that is, whether they have processed matters in the correct manner. The Parliamentary Ombudsmen cannot change an agency’s decision, but the agencies often follow the Parliamentary Ombudsmen’s recommendations.

Make a complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsmen (in Swedish)

The Chancellor of Justice receives complaints and requests for damages

If you consider that a Swedish public agency has failed to observe EU rules and you are unable to resolve the issue through your own contacts with the agency, you can turn to the Chancellor of Justice in Sweden. The Chancellor of Justice examines whether Swedish public agencies and officials have complied with laws, ordinances and EU rules, that is, whether they have processed matters in the correct manner. The Chancellor of Justice cannot change an agency’s decision, but the agencies normally follow the Chancellor of Justice’s recommendations.

If you consider that you have suffered damage by a public agency’s actions and the matter concerns EU law, you can turn to the Chancellor of Justice, who decides whether you are entitled to damages. The Chancellor of Justice represents the state in proceedings concerning claims for damages based on EU law.

The website of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice (in Swedish)

SOLVIT receives complaints

Contact the National Board of Trade’s SOLVIT centre if you consider that an Swedish agency has hindered you from exercising your rights in the EU single market. SOLVIT cannot change a public agency’s decision, but can help you in your contacts with the agency to reach the best solution.

SOLVIT on the National Board of Trade website

Help with debts and payments

The Swedish Enforcement Authority can help with debts in the EU

If you have a monetary claim on someone in another EU country you can, for example, apply for a European payment order. Conversely, a person or business in another EU country can submit a claim against a person or business here in Sweden. In Sweden, it is the Swedish Enforcement Authority that deals with matters of this kind.