European Ombudsman
Case-handling Unit
Ms Veronica Quaix
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Strasbourg, 05/02/2021
Complaint 221/2021/DL
Subject of case: Admissibility of your complaint
Dear Ms Quaix,
On 1 February 2021, you submitted a complaint to the European
Ombudsman concerning the European Commission's refusal to give public
access to documents concerning travel expenses related to an official trip to
Vietnam.
As a first step, I can inform you that your complaint is admissible.
The Commission has identified five documents pertaining to the scope
of your request, namely the mission costs summary and four supporting
documents1. It refused to give public access to these documents, relying on the
need to protect the privacy and the integrity of the individual2. You argue that
there is a necessity in the public interest to have the data transmitted and
consider that the Commission should - at least - grant you with partial access.
On the Ombudsman's behalf and in an effort to deal with the matter as
quickly as possible, I have already contacted the Commission. This is in line
with the principle, set out in Regulation 1049/2001, that applications for access
to documents should be handled promptly. At this stage, our focus will be on
the documents to which the Commission refused to give public access.
We will get back to you as soon as we are in a position to update you on
the progress of the case.
1 - one supporting document concerning accommodation;
- one supporting document concerning transport;
- one supporting document concerning exchanges with travel agency;
- one other supporting document.
2 Article 4(1)(b) of Regulation 1049/2001.
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If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the responsible case
handler, Ms Dorien Laermans, at the following telephone number: +32 2 28 33
441 or at xxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx.
Yours sincerely,
Tina Nilsson
Head of the Case-handling Unit
2