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Over the last decades, environmental problems and threats become more dangerous and more frequently appeared. For that reason, it was necessary to have mechanisms that can act immediate, with transparency and control public services. The institution which can better embody the above mentioned is Ombudsman, according to the writer´s opinion. This book presents European Ombudsman and Greek Ombudsman, which can be defined generally as a non-judicial mechanism for remedying cases of maladministration. It presents European and Greek Ombudsman, their historical development, the legal base for the right of complaint, their powers. It puts special emphasis in their contribution to solve environmental disputes. Through selective presentation of environmental cases and decisions, references to Annual Reports and legislation, it becomes easier to understand the effectiveness of their role. This book should be especially useful to lawyers, to University students and generally to anyone else who wants to learn more about their rights to environment and to know better about mediating mechanism for controlling and improving the function of public administration.

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Vassiliki K. Vretou is a lawyer and a senior investigator in Greek Ombudsman, responsible to investigate complaints related to natural and urban environment. She received two Masters degree, the first in Philosophy and Sociology of Law" and the second in "Environment and Sustainable Development". Also, she is a member of MEPIELAN Centre.

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