Ref. Ares(2022)1773398 - 10/03/2022
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
SECRETARIAT-GENERAL
Directorate G - External Relations
The Director
Brussels
SG.G.1/DT
Dear Lord Crawford,
Subject:
Your application for access to documents – Ref GestDem No 2022/1308
We refer to your request for access to documents dated and registered on 04/03/2022
under the above mentioned reference number.
You request access to:
“Records — including emails, notes and correspondence — regarding every meeting and
videoconference held by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen with Volodymyr
Zelenskyy regarding Russian aggression/invasion of Ukraine.”
Having examined the documents requested under the provisions of Regulation (EC) No
1049/2001 regarding public access to documents, we regret to inform you that your
application cannot be granted, as disclosure is prevented by exception to the right of
access laid down in Article 4 of this Regulation.
The documents which you seek to obtain contain sensitive information regarding the EU
strategic relations with Ukraine, including after Russia’s recent invasion. Disclosure of
the documents requested would undermine the protection of the public interest as regards
international relations because it would reveal information that can be used by third
countries to bring an undue pressure on the Commission and unduly limit the room for
manoeuvre of the European Union on the international stage. Disclosure would therefore
jeopardise the European Union's international position.
The third indent of Article 4(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 provides that ʻ[t]he
institutions shall refuse access to a document where disclosure would undermine the
protection of […] the public interest as regards […] international relations […]ʼ.
In accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, you are entitled to
make a confirmatory application requesting the Commission to review this position.
Lord Dillon Crawford
16 Legate Place
Clifton
Bedfordshire
SG17 5GU
UK
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
Office: BERL 07/302 - Tel. direct line +32 229-51875
Such a confirmatory application should be addressed within 15 working days upon
receipt of this letter to the Secretary-General of the Commission at the following address:
European Commission, Secretary-General
Transparency, Document Management & Access to Documents (SG.C.1) BERL 7/076
B-1049 Bruxelles or by email t
o: xxxxxxxxxx@xx.xxxxxx.xx
Yours faithfully,
Electronically signed
Michael KARNITSCHNIG
2
Electronically signed on 10/03/2022 10:12 (UTC+01) in accordance with Article 11 of Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2121