Meetings between FISMA and industry regarding LNG assets in Russia

Cécile Marchand made this access to documents request to Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

Dear Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union,

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- All correspondence (including email, SMS, private twitter and WhatsApp) since 1st February 2022 between Commissioner McGuinness, and/or her cabinet and/or officials from DG FISMA with representatives from TotalEnergies or with PR companies or law firms representing the company in which TotalEnergies LNG activities in Russia and partnership with Novatek were discussed.

2- All correspondence (including email, SMS, private twitter and WhatsApp) since 1st February 2022 between Commissioner McGuinness, and/or her cabinet and/or officials from DG FISMA with representatives from the French Ministry of Economy and Finance in which TotalEnergies LNG activities in Russia and partnership with Novatek were discussed.

3- All briefings, minutes of meetings, and correspondence between representatives of TotalEnergies or PR companies or law firms representing TotalEnergies to Commissioner McGuinness, and/or her cabinet and/or officials from DG FISMA mentioning “Yamal LNG” OR “Arctic LNG” OR “Novatek” OR “Timchenko” OR “Timtchenko” OR “Mikhelson” since 1st February 2022

4- All briefings, minutes of meetings, and correspondence between representatives of the French Ministry of Economy and Finance to Commissioner McGuinness, and/or her cabinet and/or officials from DG FISMA mentioning “Yamal LNG” OR “Arctic LNG” OR “Novatek” OR “Timchenko” OR “Timtchenko” OR “Mikhelson” since 1st February 2022

I would like to make clear I prefer you produce the documents on a rolling basis.
At no point should the Commission’s search for—or deliberations concerning—certain documents delay the production of others that the Commission has already retrieved and elected to produce.

To the extent possible, I would prefer the documents in electronic format.

Should my request be denied wholly or partially, please explain the denial or all deletions referring to specific exemptions in the regulation. Also I expect the partial release of documents, in case of partial exemption according to article 4.6.

I reserve the right to appeal.

Please confirm having received this application. I look forward to your reply within 15 business days, according to the regulation.

Yours faithfully,

Cécile Marchand

Sg-Acc-Doc@ec.europa.eu, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Your message has been received by the Transparency Unit of the
Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
Requests for public access to documents are treated on the basis of
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The Secretariat-General will reply to your request within 15 working days
upon registration of your request and will duly inform you of the
registration of the request (or of any additional information to be
provided in view of its registration and/or treatment).
 
 
L’unité «Transparence» du secrétariat général de la Commission européenne
a bien reçu votre message.
Les demandes d’accès du public aux documents sont traitées sur la base du
[2]règlement (CE) n° 1049/2001 du 30 mai 2001 relatif à l’accès du public
aux documents du Parlement européen, du Conseil et de la Commission.
Le secrétariat général répondra à votre demande dans un délai de 15 jours
ouvrables à compter de la date d’enregistrement de votre demande, et vous
informera de cet enregistrement (ou vous indiquera toute information
supplémentaire à fournir en vue de l'enregistrement et/ou du traitement de
votre demande).
 
 
Ihre Nachricht ist beim Referat „Transparenz“ des Generalsekretariats der
Europäischen Kommission eingegangen.
Anträge auf Zugang zu Dokumenten werden auf der Grundlage der
[3]Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1049/2001 vom 30. Mai 2001 über den Zugang der
Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und
der Kommission behandelt.
Das Generalsekretariat beantwortet Ihre Anfrage innerhalb von
15 Arbeitstagen nach deren Registrierung und wird Sie über die
Registrierung Ihres Antrags (oder die Notwendigkeit weiterer Informationen
im Hinblick auf dessen Registrierung und/oder Bearbeitung) unterrichten.
 
 

References

Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

We are writing to you concerning your request for access to documents sent
on 16/01/2023 and registered on 17/01/2023 under case number 2023/0306.

Since you have not indicated your postal address, we are not able to start
handling your request. The 15 working days to reply to your request will
start running only when you send us your postal address.

You can send your postal address by replying to this e-mail. If we do not
receive your reply we may close this case.

Please note that you can submit a request for access to Commission
documents via the portal [1]'Request a Commission document', which does
not require you to indicate your postal address.

Why do we need your personal postal address?

Since 1 April 2014, the submission of a postal address became a mandatory
feature when submitting an application for access to Commission documents
via an e-mail. We would like to explain why we need your postal address in
order to register and handle your application for access to documents when
submitted via e-mail:

• Firstly, to obtain legal certainty as regards the date you received
the European Commission reply to your application for public access to
documents. Article 297 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union (TFEU) states that 'decisions which specify to whom
they are addressed, shall be notified to those to whom they are
addressed and shall take effect upon such notification.' In line with
this provision, if the Commission does not grant full access to the
requested documents, it notifies the reply to the applicant via
registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt or via delivery
service. This requires an indication of a valid postal address by the
applicant;
• Secondly, to apply correctly the [2]Data Protection Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. Knowing whether the applicant is an EU resident (or not) is
necessary for deciding which conditions shall apply for the
transmissions of personal data to applicants for access to documents.
These conditions are not the same for recipients established in the
Union and for recipients in third countries. As the vast majority of
the documents requested contain personal data, the Commission cannot
ensure the correct application of the data protection rules in the
absence of a postal address;
• Thirdly, to apply correctly [3]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. Article
4(1)(b) of that Regulation refers to the protection of the privacy and
integrity of the individual and has to be applied in line with the
Data Protection Regulation;
• Fourthly, to protect the interest of other citizens and safeguard the
principle of good administration. The Commission has to treat all
citizens equally by ensuring that the legal framework for public
access to documents is respected. For example, it has to verify
whether Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 is being evaded
by introducing several requests under different identities. Indeed, in
its Ryanair judgment ([4]EU:T:2010:511), the General Court confirmed
that Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 cannot be evaded by
splitting an application into several, seemingly separate, parts. In
addition, the Commission has to make sure that the legal framework is
respected and the right of access to documents is not abused by making
requests under an invented identity.

The considerations above show that the request for and the consequent
processing of the applicant's postal address is not only appropriate, but
also strictly necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the
public interest within the meaning of Article 5(1)(a) of Data Protection
Regulation, namely providing a smooth and effective access to documents.

Yours faithfully,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

References

Visible links
1. https://www.ec.europa.eu/transparency/do...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
4. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...

Dear Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union,

Thanks for your reply.
Here is my postal address:
Cécile Marchand
European Climate Foundation
5 Rue Saint Fiacre
75002 Paris

Yours faithfully,

Cécile Marchand

Sg-Acc-Doc@ec.europa.eu, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Your message has been received by the Transparency Unit of the
Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
Requests for public access to documents are treated on the basis of
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The Secretariat-General will reply to your request within 15 working days
upon registration of your request and will duly inform you of the
registration of the request (or of any additional information to be
provided in view of its registration and/or treatment).
 
 
L’unité «Transparence» du secrétariat général de la Commission européenne
a bien reçu votre message.
Les demandes d’accès du public aux documents sont traitées sur la base du
[2]règlement (CE) n° 1049/2001 du 30 mai 2001 relatif à l’accès du public
aux documents du Parlement européen, du Conseil et de la Commission.
Le secrétariat général répondra à votre demande dans un délai de 15 jours
ouvrables à compter de la date d’enregistrement de votre demande, et vous
informera de cet enregistrement (ou vous indiquera toute information
supplémentaire à fournir en vue de l'enregistrement et/ou du traitement de
votre demande).
 
 
Ihre Nachricht ist beim Referat „Transparenz“ des Generalsekretariats der
Europäischen Kommission eingegangen.
Anträge auf Zugang zu Dokumenten werden auf der Grundlage der
[3]Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1049/2001 vom 30. Mai 2001 über den Zugang der
Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und
der Kommission behandelt.
Das Generalsekretariat beantwortet Ihre Anfrage innerhalb von
15 Arbeitstagen nach deren Registrierung und wird Sie über die
Registrierung Ihres Antrags (oder die Notwendigkeit weiterer Informationen
im Hinblick auf dessen Registrierung und/oder Bearbeitung) unterrichten.
 
 

References

Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents
sent on 16/01/2023 and registered on 17/01/2023 under the case number
2023/0306.

We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 07/02/2023. 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,

Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission

References

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

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

Dear Ms Marchand,

We are writing concerning your request for access to Commission documents
registered on 17 January 2023 under case number 2023/0306.

We are currently working on your request. However, we have not yet been
able to gather all the elements necessary to carry out a full analysis of
your request. We will not be able to send you the reply within the
prescribed time limit expiring on 7 February 2023.

Therefore, in line with Article 7(3) of [1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001,
we need to extend this time limit by 15 additional working days. The new
time limit expires on 28 February 2023.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Best regards,

DG FISMA

References

Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...

FISMA ACCES DOCUMENTS, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]themeData
Link: [3]colorSchemeMapping

[4]Your request for access to document - Case 2023/0306 -
Ares(2023)1506666  (Please use this link only if you are an Ares user –
Svp, utilisez ce lien exclusivement si vous êtes un(e) utilisateur d’Ares)

Dear Ms Marchand,

We are writing again in reference to your application for access to
document – Ref.  case No. 2023/0306

Our services are still working on your request, unfortunately we will not
be in a position to send you the response this week, but it shall reach
you soon.

 

We apologise for this delay and thank you for your patience.

 

Best Regards,

 

DG FISMA

 

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D94C86.84052A80
2. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
3. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
4. https://webgate.ec.testa.eu/Ares/documen...

Dear DG FISMA,

Thanks for keeping me posted. Would you be able to give me more details on when you think DG FISMA will be able to send a response to my FOI request sent on 17 January 2023?

Yours sincerely,

Cécile Marchand

Dear Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union,

Please pass this on to the person who reviews confirmatory applications.

I am filing the following confirmatory application with regards to my access to documents request 'Meetings between DG FISMA and the industry regarding LNG assets in Russia'.

1- All correspondence (including email, SMS, private twitter and WhatsApp) since 1st February 2022 between Commissioner McGuinness, and/or her cabinet and/or officials from DG FISMA with representatives from TotalEnergies or with PR companies or law firms representing the company in which TotalEnergies LNG activities in Russia and partnership with Novatek were discussed.

2- All correspondence (including email, SMS, private twitter and WhatsApp) since 1st February 2022 between Commissioner McGuinness, and/or her cabinet and/or officials from DG FISMA with representatives from the French Ministry of Economy and Finance in which TotalEnergies LNG activities in Russia and partnership with Novatek were discussed.

3- All briefings, minutes of meetings, and correspondence between representatives of TotalEnergies or PR companies or law firms representing TotalEnergies to Commissioner McGuinness, and/or her cabinet and/or officials from DG FISMA mentioning “Yamal LNG” OR “Arctic LNG” OR “Novatek” OR “Timchenko” OR “Timtchenko” OR “Mikhelson” since 1st February 2022

4- All briefings, minutes of meetings, and correspondence between representatives of the French Ministry of Economy and Finance to Commissioner McGuinness, and/or her cabinet and/or officials from DG FISMA mentioning “Yamal LNG” OR “Arctic LNG” OR “Novatek” OR “Timchenko” OR “Timtchenko” OR “Mikhelson” since 1st February 2022

The EU Commission acknowledged on January 17th 2023 the reception of the request and registered it under the case number 2023/0306. Since then, the Commission didn't provide any document and extended twice the time limit. The Commission didn't provide any new time limit after the second extension. Since March 1st 2023, the Commission hasn't replied. Art. 7(4) of the Regulation therefore entitles me to make a confirmatory application.

Hereby, I therefore urge the Commission to disclose the requested information in the shortest time possible.

A full history of my request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: http://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/meeti...

Yours faithfully,

Cécile Marchand
ARIA (https://aria.info/)

Sg-Acc-Doc@ec.europa.eu, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Your message has been received by the Transparency Unit of the
Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
Requests for public access to documents are treated on the basis of
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The Secretariat-General will reply to your request within 15 working days
upon registration of your request and will duly inform you of the
registration of the request (or of any additional information to be
provided in view of its registration and/or treatment).
 
 
L’unité «Transparence» du secrétariat général de la Commission européenne
a bien reçu votre message.
Les demandes d’accès du public aux documents sont traitées sur la base du
[2]règlement (CE) n° 1049/2001 du 30 mai 2001 relatif à l’accès du public
aux documents du Parlement européen, du Conseil et de la Commission.
Le secrétariat général répondra à votre demande dans un délai de 15 jours
ouvrables à compter de la date d’enregistrement de votre demande, et vous
informera de cet enregistrement (ou vous indiquera toute information
supplémentaire à fournir en vue de l'enregistrement et/ou du traitement de
votre demande).
 
 
Ihre Nachricht ist beim Referat „Transparenz“ des Generalsekretariats der
Europäischen Kommission eingegangen.
Anträge auf Zugang zu Dokumenten werden auf der Grundlage der
[3]Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1049/2001 vom 30. Mai 2001 über den Zugang der
Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und
der Kommission behandelt.
Das Generalsekretariat beantwortet Ihre Anfrage innerhalb von
15 Arbeitstagen nach deren Registrierung und wird Sie über die
Registrierung Ihres Antrags (oder die Notwendigkeit weiterer Informationen
im Hinblick auf dessen Registrierung und/oder Bearbeitung) unterrichten.
 
 

References

Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...

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

Dear Sir or Madam,

We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2023/0306, sent on 20/03/2023 and registered on 21/03/2023.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 14/04/2023. 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
2023/0306, sent on 20/03/2023 and registered on 21/03/2023.

We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 14/04/2023. 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,

1 Attachment

Dear Madam,

Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2023/0306.

Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.

Kind regards,

FISMA Access to documents

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

1 Attachment

Dear Madam,

Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2023/0306.

Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.

Kind regards,

FISMA Access to documents

Dear Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union,

Hereby I acknowledge that I have received your reply.

Yours faithfully,

Cécile Marchand

Sg-Acc-Doc@ec.europa.eu, Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Your message has been received by the Transparency Unit of the
Secretariat-General of the European Commission.
Requests for public access to documents are treated on the basis of
[1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The Secretariat-General will reply to your request within 15 working days
upon registration of your request and will duly inform you of the
registration of the request (or of any additional information to be
provided in view of its registration and/or treatment).
 
 
L’unité «Transparence» du secrétariat général de la Commission européenne
a bien reçu votre message.
Les demandes d’accès du public aux documents sont traitées sur la base du
[2]règlement (CE) n° 1049/2001 du 30 mai 2001 relatif à l’accès du public
aux documents du Parlement européen, du Conseil et de la Commission.
Le secrétariat général répondra à votre demande dans un délai de 15 jours
ouvrables à compter de la date d’enregistrement de votre demande, et vous
informera de cet enregistrement (ou vous indiquera toute information
supplémentaire à fournir en vue de l'enregistrement et/ou du traitement de
votre demande).
 
 
Ihre Nachricht ist beim Referat „Transparenz“ des Generalsekretariats der
Europäischen Kommission eingegangen.
Anträge auf Zugang zu Dokumenten werden auf der Grundlage der
[3]Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1049/2001 vom 30. Mai 2001 über den Zugang der
Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und
der Kommission behandelt.
Das Generalsekretariat beantwortet Ihre Anfrage innerhalb von
15 Arbeitstagen nach deren Registrierung und wird Sie über die
Registrierung Ihres Antrags (oder die Notwendigkeit weiterer Informationen
im Hinblick auf dessen Registrierung und/oder Bearbeitung) unterrichten.
 
 

References

Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...

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

1 Attachment

Dear applicant,

Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2023/0306.

Kind regards,