Dies ist eine HTML Version eines Anhanges der Informationsfreiheitsanfrage 'Mr. zu Guttenberg's deliverables'.



 
Ref. Ares(2013)3637748 - 04/12/2013
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology 
 
The Director General 
   
Brussels,  
CNECT D/1/PK/st 
Ares (2013) 
 
Kirsten Fiedler 
Email:  
 
 
 
Subject: 
Your application for access to documents – Ref GestDem No 
2013/5629 under Regulation 1049/2011 regarding public access to 
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents   

 
Dear Madam, 
I refer to your e-mails dated 11 and 12/11/2013 wherein you make a request for access to 
documents, registered by us on 12/11/2013 under the abovementioned reference number. 
Your application concerns the following documents: (1) A list of Mr Karl-Theodor zu 
Guttenberg's meetings with IT companies, bloggers, activists, NGOs and decision-makers; 
(2)  A list of conferences and events in which he participated; (3) A list of EU initiatives and 
projects in which Mr zu Guttenberg was involved; (4) Mr zu Guttenberg's contribution as a 
key element to the No Disconnect Strategy; (5) His intermediary and final reports on the 
EU-27, possible support to bloggers, users and activists; and (6) A complete overview of his 
travel expenses and other fees. 
Having examined the documents requested under the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 
1049/2001 regarding public access to documents, we have come to the conclusion that they 
may be partially disclosed.  
Pursuant to Article 4 (1) b of Regulation 1049/2001 "the institutions shall refuse access to a 
document where disclosure would undermine the protection of privacy and the integrity of 
the individual, in particular in accordance with Community legislation regarding the 
protection of personal data".  
Furthermore, pursuant to Article 8 (b) of Regulation (EC) 45/2001 on the protection of 
individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions 
and bodies and on the free movement of such data, the Commission can only transmit 
personal data to a recipient subject to Directive 95/46/EC if the recipient establishes the 
necessity of having the data transferred and if there is no reason to assume that the data 
subject's legitimate interests might be prejudiced. Nothing in your request shows the 
necessity of having these data transmitted to you. 
 
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111 
Office: BU25 6/183 - Tel. direct line +32 229.90473 - Fax +32 229.68970 
 
xxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx 
 

The blanked out parts of the disclosed documents contain personal data disclosure of which 
would undermine the protection of the privacy of these individuals.  
Pursuant to Article 4 (1) a, third indent of the Regulation 1049/2001 "the institutions shall 
refuse access to a document where disclosure would undermine the protection of 
international relations".  
The expunged data relates to international relations at stake, including events and activities 
currently under preparation which would be impaired by disclosure. 
The exceptions in Article 4(1) are absolute exceptions not balanced by an overriding 
interest.  
Furthermore, pursuant to Article 4(2) first indent of Regulation 1049/2001 "the institutions 
shall refuse access to a document where disclosure would undermine the protection of 
commercial interests of a natural or legal person, including intellectual property".  
Therefore, all the information relating to the commercial interests of natural and/or legal 
entities has been expunged on the basis of the above-mentioned exception.   
Having analysed your request, we have not found any elements which could justify the 
existence of an overriding public interest in the sense of the Regulation, which would 
outweigh the exception stipulated in Article 4 (2) mentioned above.  
Noting the above, please find below the specific replies to each of your questions and the 
related documents attached in Annexes. 
(1) A list of Mr zu Guttenberg's meetings with IT companies, bloggers, activists, NGOs 
and decision-makers  

As noted in your e-mail, in 2011, in the context of developing the No-Disconnect Strategy, 
Vice-President Neelie Kroes invited Mr Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg to advise on how to 
provide ongoing support to Internet users, bloggers and cyber-activists living under 
authoritarian regimes. 
To this end, Mr zu Guttenberg was in contact with the ICT sector, the political and 
intelligence establishments, academia, NGOs, bloggers and the media, attending close to 
one hundred meetings.  
At the same time it should be noted that Mr zu Guttenberg has not represented the 
European Commission in the above meetings, nor has he intervened in these meetings on 
behalf of the Commission.  
Disclosure of a list of individuals, bloggers and activists, companies and decision-makers 
Mr zu Guttenberg has met on the issues of internet freedom and No-Disconnect Strategy 
would undermine the protection of the privacy of these individuals, protection of 
commercial interests and the protection of international relations as stipulated under 
Regulation 149/2001, as explained above. 
Therefore, we have concluded that access to the document(s) requested cannot be 
granted.  
 


(2) A list of conferences and events in which he participated 
We regret to inform you that no document(s) were found that correspond to the 
description given in your application. We are, therefore, unable to handle your 
application.  
However, please find below the information relating to conferences and events to which Mr 
zu Guttenberg has participated in his capacity as an advisor and external expert, the related 
travel expenses of which were reimbursed by the Commission (see point 6 below): 
1)  Meeting on the No-Disconnect Strategy, Brussels, Belgium, 22 November 2011 
2)  Press conference on the No-Disconnect Strategy, Brussels, Belgium, 12 December 
2011 
3)  Conference "Internet Freedom for Global Development", Stockholm, Sweden, 17 
April 2012 
4)  Meetings with different companies operating in the San Francisco Bay area in the 
context of the No-Disconnect Strategy, San Francisco, United States, 21-24 May 
2012 
5)  Meeting with Vice-President Kroes and the US Ambassador to the EU on the No-
Disconnect Strategy, Brussels, Belgium, 13 June 2012 
(3) A list of EU initiatives and projects in which Mr zu Guttenberg was involved  
We regret to inform you that no document(s) were found that correspond to the 
description given in your application. We are, therefore, unable to handle your 
application.  
However, it should be noted that Mr zu Guttenberg was invited as an external expert to 
advise Vice-President Kroes on the No-Disconnect Strategy. After the preparatory phase of 
the strategy, when the implementation of certain actions required direct communication 
with the advisor, the relationship between the advisor and the Vice-President took place 
in face-to-face or private telephone exchanges. Mr zu Guttenberg has not been involved 
in other EU initiatives and projects. 
(4) Mr zu Guttenberg's contribution as a key element to the No Disconnect Strategy 
We have identified documents relating to your request in particular concerning contacts 
with the civil society that have been facilitated by Mr zu Guttenberg to create co-
operation on the implementation of the No Disconnect Strategy, which you will find 
enclosed in Annexes 1 and 2. 
However, after analysing the documents falling in the scope of your request, we have 
concluded that only partial access can be granted to you due to the following:  
Pursuant to Article 4 (1) b of Regulation 1049/2001 "the institutions shall refuse access to a 
document where disclosure would undermine the protection of privacy and the integrity of 
the individual, in particular in accordance with Community legislation regarding the 
protection of personal data".  
The blanked out parts of the disclosed documents contain personal data disclosure of which 
would undermine the protection of the privacy of these individuals.  


Pursuant to Article 4 (1) a, third indent of the Regulation 1049/2001 "the institutions shall 
refuse access to a document where disclosure would undermine the protection of 
international relations".  
The expunged data relates to international relations at stake, including events and activities 
currently under preparation which would be impaired by disclosure. 
Furthermore, we draw your attention to the fact that Mr zu Guttenberg's  contacts with 
the ICT sector, the political and intelligence establishments, academia, NGOs, bloggers 
and the media allowed him to provide advice concerning possible cooperation 
mechanisms with the public and private sector, within EU Member States and third 
countries (in particular the USA) in the field of Internet freedom.  
Mr zu Guttenberg's  contribution has therefore helped in general to build two main pillars 
of the No-Disconnect Strategy, namely global cooperation and understanding what is 
happening "on the ground". 
(5) His intermediary and final reports on the EU-27, possible support to bloggers, 
users and activists 

We regret to inform you that no document(s) were found that correspond to the 
description given in your application. We are, therefore, unable to handle your 
application. 
As noted above, in his role as an adviser and external expert, Mr zu Guttenberg has 
provided advice to Vice-President Kroes in face-to-face or private telephone exchanges. 
There has been no obligation on Mr zu Guttenberg to provide the Commission with written 
interim or final reports on his discussions with the different parties.  Therefore,  no  such 
reports exist. 
 (6)  A complete overview of his travel expenses and other fees 
We have identified documents relating to the travel expenses of Mr zu Guttenberg, which 
you will find enclosed in Annexes 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Please note that Annex 9 
contains information that also replies to your request under point (2)  above as you will 
find financial information in relation to the conferences and events attended by the 
advisor. 
Please note that only partial access can be granted to you with respect to the documents 
contained in Annex 9.  
Pursuant to Article 4 (1) b of Regulation 1049/2001 "the institutions shall refuse access to a 
document where disclosure would undermine the protection of privacy and the integrity of 
the individual, in particular in accordance with Community legislation regarding the 
protection of personal data".  
The blanked out parts of the disclosed documents (Annex 9) contain personal data of Mr. zu 
Guttenberg and personal references of third parties, disclosure of which would undermine 
the protection of the privacy of these individuals.  
Please be informed that the Commission has refunded travel expenses concerning five 
meetings (listed under point 2 above) since Mr zu Guttenberg's appointment as an 
external expert. These are: 


Meeting n. 1 in Brussels on 22 November 2011: 4946.50 euros; 
Meeting n. 2 in Brussels on 12 December 2011: 585.75 euros; 
Meeting n. 3 in Brussels and Stockholm on 17-18 April 2012: 6318.65 euros; 
Meeting n. 4 in San Francisco on 21-24 May 2012: 2754.20 euros; and 
Meeting n. 5 in Brussels on 13 June 2012: 5193.91 euros. 
 
The total amount of travel expenses reimbursed is therefore 19,766.01 euros. There are 
no other expenses or fees that the Commission has refunded to Mr zu Guttenberg in his 
role as an external expert.  
The Commission has reimbursed Mr Guttenberg for his travels within the framework set 
by Commission's Decision of 5th December 2007 on "Rules on the reimbursement of 
expenses incurred by people from outside the Commission invited to attend meetings in 
an expert capacity
". 
For journeys of less than 400 km (one way, according to official distance by rail), the 
experts are reimbursed for a first-class rail travel, and for a distance of more than 400 km 
economy class air travel. 
If the journey involves a flight of 4 hours or more without stopovers, the cost of a 
business class ticket can be reimbursed. 
The daily allowance paid for each day of meeting is a flat rate and cover all expenditure 
at the place where the meeting is held, including meals, local transports as well as 
accident insurance and it is EUR 92 by effective meeting day (Article 4). 
The night allowance is also a flat rate and is EUR 100. The number of nights may not 
exceed the number of meeting days + 1. 
Finally, in accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation 1049/2001, you are entitled to 
make a confirmatory application requesting the Commission to review the position 
above.  
Such a confirmatory application should be addressed within 15 working days upon 
receipt of this letter to the Secretary-General of the Commission at the following address: 
 
European Commission 
Secretary-General 
Transparency Unit SG-B-5 
BERL 5/327 
B-1049 Bruxelles 
 
or by email to: xxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx 
 
 
 
Yours sincerely,                                                                                                
 
                                                                                                          (e-Signed) 
                                                                                                      Robert Madelin