For a long time, and until very recently, European law remained silent on administrative mediation whereas mediation in other fields -especially family law and consumer law- was largely promoted. Nowadays, mediation in administrative justice is growing in many European countries, making the comparative perspective particularly relevant. This short article focuses on French and Spanish legal orders. Despite a different legal framework, the comparison shows similarities and, finally, invites us to see in mediation, not just an alternative to administrative justice, but rather a justice system on its own.