Estonian tax on sweetened beverages

Moritz Neujeffski made this access to documents request to Competition

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Dear Competition,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the following information:

1. Complaints by the (Estonian) "Soft Drink Producers' Union" to the European Commission regarding the introduction of a national sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Estonia in 2017.
2. A list of further correspondence between the Soft Drink Producers' Union and the European Commission regarding the Sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Estonia.
3. Letters of formal notice or draft letters of formal notification by the European Commission or any other communication between the European Commission and the Estonian government regarding the sugar-sweetened beverage tax

The background to the request is the following: A newspaper article from 2017 claimed that: "The Soft Drink Producers' Union has decided to turn to the European Commission regarding the planned tax on sweetened beverages as they find that the tax would constitute prohibited state aid" https://web.archive.org/web/201908111944...

The transparency rules as set out in the Lisbon Treaty oblige the EU institutions to work as openly and as closely as possible to citizens. Public health initiatives such as sugar-sweetened beverage taxes represent a key interest of Estonian citizens. Thus, there is a clear public interest in the disclosure of these information, in order for citizens to better comprehend the democratic decision making process of their national government.

Yours faithfully,
Moritz Neujeffski

COMP-ACCESS-TO-DOCUMENTS@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents
sent on 11/11/2022 and registered on 14/11/2022 under the case number
2022/6559.

We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 05/12/2022. We will let you know
if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working days.

To find more information on how we process your personal data, please see
[1]the privacy statement.

Yours faithfully,

Directorate-General for Competition - Access to Documents
European Commission

References

Visible links
1. https://ec.europa.eu/info/principles-and...

GROW-ACCES-DOCUMENTS@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents
sent on 11/11/2022 and registered on 15/11/2022 under the case number
2022/6605.

We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 06/12/2022. We will let you know
if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working days.

To find more information on how we process your personal data, please see
[1]the privacy statement.

Yours faithfully,

Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and
SMEs - Access to Documents
European Commission

References

Visible links
1. https://ec.europa.eu/info/principles-and...

GROW-ACCES-DOCUMENTS@ec.europa.eu,

1 Attachment

Dear Sir,

Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2022/6605.

Kind regards,

DG GROW ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS TEAM

Dear Competition,

Thank you very much for your reply. Regarding your points of clarification:
1. How can I identify the reference numbers of the complaints? Is there a public registry to look that up? My only information is from a report stating that "The Soft Drink Producers' Union has decided to turn to the European Commission regarding the planned tax on sweetened beverages " (see link below)
2. Yes, I mean DG GROW
3. I was referring to letters of notification under the infringement procedure. I unfortunately do not have a reference number.
4. Here is a second link: https://news.err.ee/596815/soft-drink-pr...

Yours faithfully,

Moritz Neujeffski

COMP-H5@ec.europa.eu, Competition

2 Attachments

Dear Sir,

 

Please find attached our reply to a request for access to documents,
registered under the above-mentioned reference number.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

Dana Ciuntu

 

[1]cid:image001.png@01D618A4.D066F5C0

European Commission

DG Competition
Unit COMP H5 – Fiscal Aid & Aggressive Tax Planning

MADO 22/068
B-1210 Brussels/ Belgium
(+32 2 295 98 97
[2][email address]

 

 

 

 

 

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[email address]

GROW-ACCES-DOCUMENTS@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir,

 

We refer to your request for access to documents, registered on 15/11/2022
under the above mentioned reference number 2022/6605.

 

Your application is currently being handled. However, we will not be in a
position to complete the handling of your application within the time
limit of 15 working days, which expires today.

 

An extended time limit is needed as the application concerns different
services that are being consulted.

 

Therefore, we have to extend the time limit with 15 working days in
accordance with Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding
public access to documents. The new time limit 11/01/2023.

 

We apologize for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

Yours sincerely.

 

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2022/6559, sent on 16/12/2022 and registered on 19/12/2022.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 18/01/2023. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

GROW-ACCES-DOCUMENTS@ec.europa.eu,

1 Attachment

Dear Sir,

Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2022/6605.

Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.

Kind regards,

DG GROW Access to documents team

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Mr Neujeffski,

We refer to your email, registered on 19 December 2022, by which you
submit a confirmatory application in accordance with Article 7(2) of
Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European
Parliament, Council and Commission documents ("Regulation (EC) No
1049/2001"), registered under reference number above.Your confirmatory
application is currently being handled. Unfortunately, we have not yet
been able to finalize the internal consultations needed to carry out a
full analysis of your request and to take a final decision. Therefore, we
are not in a position to reply to your confirmatory request within the
prescribed time limit which expires on 18 January 2023.

Consequently, we have to extend this period by another 15 working days in
accordance with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. The new
deadline expires on 8 February 2023.We regret this additional delay and
sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. However, we can
assure you that we are doing our utmost to provide you with a final reply
as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

SG.C1 ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS TEAM

sg-acc-doc@ec.europa.eu,

Dear Mr Neujeffski,

We refer to your email, registered on 19 December 2022, by which you
submit a confirmatory application in accordance with Article 7(2) of
Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European
Parliament, Council and Commission documents ("Regulation (EC) No
1049/2001"), registered under reference number above.

Your confirmatory application is currently being handled. Unfortunately,
we still have not yet been able to finalize the internal consultations
needed to carry out a full analysis of your request and to take a final
decision. Therefore, we are not in a position to reply to your
confirmatory request within the prescribed time limit which expires on
8  February 2022. We regret this additional delay and sincerely apologise
for any inconvenience this may cause. However, we can assure you that we
are doing our utmost to provide you with a final reply as soon as
possible.

Yours sincerely

SG.C1 ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS TEAM