Ref. Ares(2014)3295519 - 06/10/2014
Ref. Ares(2016)5721834 - 03/10/2016
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
The Director-General
Brussels,
JP/agri.r.6(2014)3585485
NOTE TO DG AGRI STAFF
Subject:
Reminder on staff obligations when dealing with correspondence in
compliance with the Code of good administrative behaviour
According to the Code of good administrative behaviour, the Commission respects the
following general principles in its relations with the public: lawfulness, non-
discrimination and equal treatment, proportionality and consistency. The Commission is
committed to answering enquiries in the most appropriate manner and as quickly as
possible.
Requests for access to documents are dealt with according to Regulation (EC) No
1049/2001 (internal DG AGRI rules). Other correspondence and information requests
shall be treated in compliance with the Code of good administrative behaviour by the
responsible DG AGRI unit. A reply shall be sent within fifteen working days from the
date of receipt of the request by the competent unit and be drafted in the language of the
initial demand, provided that it is written in one of the official languages of the European
Union, unless the applicant has indicated that an answer in EN/FR/DE is also acceptable.
If the preparation of the response requires more time, the unit shall send a holding reply
to the requestor. This is to avoid the risk of a complaint to the Ombudsman and/or the
Secretariat General for non-respect of the Code.
Requests for information arrive ma
inly via the contact form at the Europa website. They
are coordinated by unit R.6 through the functional mailbox AGRI INFO and by
attributing tasks in ARES. The attached diagram presents the workflow of processing an
information request received via Europa with clear instructions for the competent units.
Requests received directly by the units should be treated in the same way by sending a
reply in compliance with the Code of good administrative behaviour. All units whose
tasks are not closed within the deadline1 and where no response is registered will receive
a reminder to answer as soon as possible. If an answer is long overdue, the hierarchy will
be informed.
(e-signed)
p.o.
Rudolf
MOEGELE
in absence of
Jerzy PLEWA
1
Closing the task means that a reply is sent.
Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111
Enclosure:
DG AGRI practical arrangements for treating information requests,
Code of good administrative behaviour
2