AFFGEN.2
Head of Division
Brussels, 12 February 2021
eeas.sg.affgen.2 (2021) 907245
Mr Stefan Soesato
Subject: Your request for access to documents of 31 January 2021
Our ref: 2020/009
Dear Mr Soesanto,
Thank you for your request for access to documents, which the EEAS has examined in the
framework of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.1
After a search in the EEAS filing systems, document management databases and archives,
we have identified two emails sent to EEAS Sanctions Policy Division matching your request:
1) Email dated 7 August 2020 (date of birth of Mr. ZHANG Shilong);
2) Email dated 2 October 2020 (date of birth of Mr. GAO Qiang).
We have carefully examined both these emails and came to the conclusion that their public
release of would harm the interests of the EU protected by the exceptions in Article 4 of the
Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, in particular it would undermine the protection of the public
interest as regards international relations as per Article 4(1)(a), third indent, of the Regulation
(EC) No 1049/2001.
The origin of the information submitted to the EEAS cannot be publicly disclosed, since it
might affect the international relations between the State that sends the information and the
country of origin of the persons subject to the sanction regime. In consequence, international
relations of the EU would be affected, since such a revelation would break the relationship of
trust, the confidential treatment and the unconstrained flow of information between the EU
institutions and the States that send relevant information to the EU for the purpose of its
sanction regime.
1 Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (hereafter the "Regulation").
European External Action Service – B-1046 Brussels – Belgium – Tel.: (32-2) 584 11 11
Office: EEAS PARC 06/560 – e-
mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxxxxx.xx
The EEAS has assessed whether any part or parts of these two documents would fall outside
the exception provided in Article 4(6) of the Regulation concerning the protection of
international relations, but concluded that this is not the case. Partial access to these
documents is thus not possible.
Therefore, I regret to inform you that EEAS is not in a position to disclose these documents
at this point in time, neither as a whole or partially, since it could seriously undermine the
protection of international relations, as per Article 4 (1) (a), third indent, of the Regulation
1049/2001.
Should you wish this position to be reviewed, you may confirm your initial request within
15 working days.
Yours sincerely,
[e-signed]
Gabriele Visentin
2