OVER the past year or so, many letters to your newspaper have expressed concern about the increasing power of the EU and being "ruled from Brussels".

It seems to me that too often the opportunities, advantages and beneficial legislation that flows from Brussels to regulate the single market that we are all part of is overlooked.

Indeed, as individual citizens of the European Union we have rights of redress on almost any European matter.

In these cases the European treaties give every European Union citizen the fundamental right to petition or complain, either individually, or with others to the European Parliament or the European ombudsman.

The rights apply equally to:

All citizens of the European Union

All natural or legal persons (eg businesses, organisations, associations, societies and collective bodies) residing in or having their registered office in a member state of the European Union.

Non-EU citizens from a third country, residing in the Union.

Anyone who would wish to exercise these rights can obtain a helpful leaflet from my office giving details of how to take their concerns forward with either the European Parliament by way of a petition or the European Ombudsman by way of a complaint.

I will, as always, be only too happy to help.

David Bowe MEP,

2 Blenheim Terrace,

Leeds LS2 9JG.

Updated: 09:38 Monday, December 29, 2003