Conducted against the background of five ideal ombudsman models, this penetrating analysis of the European Ombudsman questions the fitness of this Community body, as 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 study questions whether a redress ombudsman is in fact what the Community needs.