Meeting reports & correspondence about the EU-China investment agreement

The request was partially successful.

Dear Madams & Sirs,

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) a list of meetings of DG Trade officials and/or representatives (including the Commissioner and the Cabinet) and representatives of individual companies and/or industry federations such as BusinessEurope, the European Services Forum (ESF), the Federation of German Industries (BDI) and/or law firms such as Freshfields, White & Case, Herbert Smith and Sidley, in which the EU-China investment agreement was discussed (since 1 January 2019);

2) minutes and other reports of these meetings;

3) all correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls) between DG Trade officials and/or representatives (including the Commissioner and the Cabinet) and representatives of companies, business associations and law firms, in which the EU-China investment agreement was discussed (since 1 January 2019).

I would appreciate if you could take the Code of Good Administrative Behaviour into account when considering section 1 of this request.

I would be very grateful if you would release documents when they are retrieved, rather than waiting until the full reply is ready.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Pia Eberhardt
on behalf of Corporate Europe Observatory
Rue d’Edimbourg 26
Bruxelles 1050

1 Attachment

Dear Madam,
 
Thank you for your e-mail dated 16 January 2020. We hereby acknowledge
receipt of your application for access to documents, which was registered
today under the above mentioned reference number. In accordance with
Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European
Parliament, Council and Commission documents, your application will be
handled within 15 working days. The time limit will expire on 6 Month
February. In case this time limit needs to be extended, you will be
informed in due course.
 
You have lodged your application via the AsktheEU.org website. Please note
that the private third party running the AsktheEU.org website is
responsible and accountable for the processing of your personal data via
that website. We understand that the third party running that website
usually publishes the content of applicants’ correspondence with the
European Commission on that website. This includes the personal data that
you may have communicated to the European Commission. If you do not wish
your correspondence with the European Commission to be published on the
AsktheEU.org website, you can provide us with an alternative, private
e-mail address for further correspondence. In that case, the European
Commission will send all future electronic correspondence addressed to you
only to that private address.
Yours sincerely,
Access to Documents Team
European Commission
DG TRADE
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Pia Eberhardt <[FOI #7576 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 12:20 PM
To: TRADE ACCES DOCUMENTS <[DG TRADE request email]>
Subject: access to documents request - Meeting reports & correspondence
about the EU-China investment agreement
 
Dear Madams & Sirs,
 
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) a list of meetings of DG Trade officials and/or representatives
(including the Commissioner and the Cabinet) and representatives of
individual companies and/or industry federations such as BusinessEurope,
the European Services Forum (ESF), the Federation of German Industries
(BDI) and/or law firms such as Freshfields, White & Case, Herbert Smith
and Sidley, in which the EU-China investment agreement was discussed
(since 1  January 2019);
 
2) minutes and other reports of these meetings;
 
3) all correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls) between DG
Trade officials and/or representatives (including the Commissioner and the
Cabinet) and representatives of companies, business associations and law
firms, in which the EU-China investment agreement was discussed (since 1 
January 2019).
 
I would appreciate if you could take the Code of Good Administrative
Behaviour into account when considering section 1 of this request.
 
I would be very grateful if you would release documents when they are
retrieved, rather than waiting until the full reply is ready.
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Pia Eberhardt
on behalf of Corporate Europe Observatory
Rue d’Edimbourg 26
Bruxelles 1050
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.
 
Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[1][FOI #7576 email]
 
If [2][DG TRADE request email] is the wrong address for
information requests to Trade, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on email
[3][email address]
 
This message and all replies from Trade will be published on the
AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page for EU
public officials at
[4]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....
 
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #7576 email]
2. mailto:[DG TRADE request email]
3. mailto:[AsktheEU.org contact email]
4. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....

hide quoted sections

1 Attachment

Dear Madam,
 
We refer to your access to documents requests registered under the above
mentioned reference numbers.
 
Your applications are currently being handled. However, due to the heavy
workload of a high number of requests, we will not be in a position to
complete the handling of your application within the time limit of 15
working days.
 
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 expires on 27/02/2020.
 
We apologise for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause.
Yours sincerely,
Access to Documents Team
European Commission
DG TRADE
_____________________________________________
From: TRADE ACCES DOCUMENTS <[DG TRADE request email]>
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2020 10:06 AM
To: 'Pia Eberhardt' <[FOI #7576 email]>
Cc: LEVIE Damien (TRADE) <[email address]>; TRADE ACCES
DOCUMENTS <[DG TRADE request email]>
Subject: GestDem 2020/0294 your access to documents request - Meeting
reports & correspondence about the EU-China investment agreement
 
 
Dear Madam,
 
Thank you for your e-mail dated 16 January 2020. We hereby acknowledge
receipt of your application for access to documents, which was registered
today under the above mentioned reference number. In accordance with
Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European
Parliament, Council and Commission documents, your application will be
handled within 15 working days. The time limit will expire on 6 Month
February. In case this time limit needs to be extended, you will be
informed in due course.
 
You have lodged your application via the AsktheEU.org website. Please note
that the private third party running the AsktheEU.org website is
responsible and accountable for the processing of your personal data via
that website. We understand that the third party running that website
usually publishes the content of applicants’ correspondence with the
European Commission on that website. This includes the personal data that
you may have communicated to the European Commission. If you do not wish
your correspondence with the European Commission to be published on the
AsktheEU.org website, you can provide us with an alternative, private
e-mail address for further correspondence. In that case, the European
Commission will send all future electronic correspondence addressed to you
only to that private address.
Yours sincerely,
Access to Documents Team
<< OLE Object: Picture (Device Independent Bitmap) >>
European Commission
DG TRADE
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Pia Eberhardt <[FOI #7576 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 12:20 PM
To: TRADE ACCES DOCUMENTS <[DG TRADE request email]>
Subject: access to documents request - Meeting reports & correspondence
about the EU-China investment agreement
 
Dear Madams & Sirs,
 
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) a list of meetings of DG Trade officials and/or representatives
(including the Commissioner and the Cabinet) and representatives of
individual companies and/or industry federations such as BusinessEurope,
the European Services Forum (ESF), the Federation of German Industries
(BDI) and/or law firms such as Freshfields, White & Case, Herbert Smith
and Sidley, in which the EU-China investment agreement was discussed
(since 1  January 2019);
 
2) minutes and other reports of these meetings;
 
3) all correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls) between DG
Trade officials and/or representatives (including the Commissioner and the
Cabinet) and representatives of companies, business associations and law
firms, in which the EU-China investment agreement was discussed (since 1 
January 2019).
 
I would appreciate if you could take the Code of Good Administrative
Behaviour into account when considering section 1 of this request.
 
I would be very grateful if you would release documents when they are
retrieved, rather than waiting until the full reply is ready.
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Pia Eberhardt
on behalf of Corporate Europe Observatory
Rue d’Edimbourg 26
Bruxelles 1050
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.
 
Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[1][FOI #7576 email]
 
If [2][DG TRADE request email] is the wrong address for
information requests to Trade, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on email
[3][email address]
 
This message and all replies from Trade will be published on the
AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page for EU
public officials at
[4]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....
 
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #7576 email]
2. mailto:[DG TRADE request email]
3. mailto:[AsktheEU.org contact email]
4. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....

hide quoted sections

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Eberhardt,
 
The deadline for your requests mentioned above is approaching. However, it
is likely that we will not be in a position to reply within the deadline.
Your file is currently subject to internal approval. This might take some
days.
 
We will send the reply as soon as we can.
 
Kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Access to Documents Team
European Commission
DG TRADE
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Pia Eberhardt <[FOI #7576 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2020 12:20 PM
To: TRADE ACCES DOCUMENTS <[DG TRADE request email]>
Subject: access to documents request - Meeting reports & correspondence
about the EU-China investment agreement
 
Dear Madams & Sirs,
 
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) a list of meetings of DG Trade officials and/or representatives
(including the Commissioner and the Cabinet) and representatives of
individual companies and/or industry federations such as BusinessEurope,
the European Services Forum (ESF), the Federation of German Industries
(BDI) and/or law firms such as Freshfields, White & Case, Herbert Smith
and Sidley, in which the EU-China investment agreement was discussed
(since 1  January 2019);
 
2) minutes and other reports of these meetings;
 
3) all correspondence (including emails, letters, phone calls) between DG
Trade officials and/or representatives (including the Commissioner and the
Cabinet) and representatives of companies, business associations and law
firms, in which the EU-China investment agreement was discussed (since 1 
January 2019).
 
I would appreciate if you could take the Code of Good Administrative
Behaviour into account when considering section 1 of this request.
 
I would be very grateful if you would release documents when they are
retrieved, rather than waiting until the full reply is ready.
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Pia Eberhardt
on behalf of Corporate Europe Observatory
Rue d’Edimbourg 26
Bruxelles 1050
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.
 
Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[1][FOI #7576 email]
 
If [2][DG TRADE request email] is the wrong address for
information requests to Trade, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on email
[3][email address]
 
This message and all replies from Trade will be published on the
AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page for EU
public officials at
[4]https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....
 
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
 

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[FOI #7576 email]
2. mailto:[DG TRADE request email]
3. mailto:[AsktheEU.org contact email]
4. https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....

hide quoted sections

Dear Madams & Sirs,
could you please update me on the status of my request? Your extended deadline expired on 27 February. On 25 February you informed me that "it is likely that we will not be in a position to reply within the deadline", that my file was "currently subject to internal approval" and that "this might take some days". As it is now early April I was wondering if you could please update me on the status of the request and inform me about when I can expect the requested documents.
Many thanks for your consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Pia Eberhardt

Dear Ms Eberhardt,

In reply to your email, we can inform you that indeed the internal approval procedure took a relatively long time. This is also due to the situation of the corona virus.

The reply is now with our Director-General for sign off. We expect to be able to send the reply to you in the coming days.

We apologise for the inconvenience the delay has caused you.

Best regards,

European Commission
DG TRADE

-----Original Message-----
From: Pia Eberhardt <[FOI #7576 email]>
Sent: Thursday, April 2, 2020 11:39 AM
To: TRADE ACCES DOCUMENTS <[DG TRADE request email]>
Subject: Re: GestDem 2020/0294 and 2020/0302 your access to documents requests - EU-China investment agreement

Dear Madams & Sirs,
could you please update me on the status of my request? Your extended deadline expired on 27 February. On 25 February you informed me that "it is likely that we will not be in a position to reply within the deadline", that my file was "currently subject to internal approval" and that "this might take some days". As it is now early April I was wondering if you could please update me on the status of the request and inform me about when I can expect the requested documents.
Many thanks for your consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Pia Eberhardt

-----Original Message-----

Dear Ms Eberhardt,
 
The deadline for your requests mentioned above is approaching. However, it
is likely that we will not be in a position to reply within the deadline.
Your file is currently subject to internal approval. This might take some
days.
 
We will send the reply as soon as we can.
 
Kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Access to Documents Team
European Commission
DG TRADE
 

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #7576 email]

This message and all replies from Trade will be published on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page for EU public officials at https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www....

Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

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ve_trade.b.2(TRADE), Trade

10 Attachments

Please find attached document Ares(2020)1991107 from Mrs WEYAND Sabine (TRADE) dated 08/04/2020.

Veuillez trouver ci-joint le document Ares(2020)1991107 de Mme WEYAND Sabine (TRADE) daté du 08/04/2020.

Dear applicant,

Please find attached the reply to your request for access to documents, registered under reference GestDem 2020/0294 and 2020/0302.

According to our standard operational procedure, the reply is usually also sent to you by registered post. Please note, however, that due to the extraordinary health and security measures currently in force during to the COVID-19 epidemics, which include the requirement for all Commission non-critical staff to telework, we are unfortunately not in a position to follow this procedure until further notice.

We would therefore appreciate if you could confirm receipt of the present e-mail by replying to [DG TRADE request email].

Best regards,

The Access to Documents Team

Dear Ms Eberhardt,

On April 2020 we have sent you the reply to the above mentioned access to documents requests.

We would appreciate if you could confirm receipt by replying to [DG TRADE request email].

Best regards,

The Access to Documents Team

Dear DG Trade staff,

I herewith confirm to have received your response to my access to documents requests GestDem 2020/0294 and 2020/0302 on 8 April.

Yours faithfully,

Pia Eberhardt