Press Release: Ombudsman solves payment dispute between Commission and Austrian university

After the intervention of the European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, the European Commission settled a payment dispute with the Vienna University of Technology. This followed a complaint from the University claiming that the Commission failed to pay an outstanding sum of 97 000 EUR for a research and development contract in the field of chemical engineering.

To justify its refusal to pay, the Commission explained that the complainant did not submit the final cost statements on time. The Ombudsman took the view that it was disproportionate to impose a penalty of 97 000 EUR for the delay. He thus asked the Commission to reconsider its position. The Commission agreed to pay 54 000 EUR to settle the matter. The University accepted the proposal and thanked the Ombudsman for his intervention.