BlackRock report on ESG factors
To DG FISMA
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:
- The final version of the report written by BlackRock on integration of ESG factors into banks' risk strategies, including annexes.
- All written communication, including emails, between DG FISMA and BlackRock on the report mentioned above since 1. December 2020.
- Minutes of meetings between BlackRock and DG FISMA concerning the report mentioned above since 1. December 2020.
Yours faithfully,
Kenneth Haar
Overgaden oven Vandet 12
1415 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Dear Sir,
We hereby acknowledge receipt of your application for access to documents, which was registered on 26/04/2021 under reference number GESTDEM 2021/2695.
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 19/05/2021. In case this time limit needs to be extended, you will be informed in due course.
You have lodged your application via a private third-party website, which has no link with any institution of the European Union.
Therefore, the European Commission cannot be held accountable for any technical issues or problems linked to the use of this system.
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, and not the Commission.
For further information on your rights, please refer to the third party’s privacy policy.
We understand that the third party running the AsktheEU.org website usually publishes the content of applicants’ correspondence with the Commission on that website. This includes the personal data that you may have communicated to the Commission (e.g. your private postal address).
Similarly, the third party publishes on that website any reply that the Commission will send to the email address of the applicants generated by the AsktheEU.org website.
If you do not wish that your correspondence with the Commission is published on a private third-party website such as AsktheEU.org, you can provide us with an alternative, private e-mail address for further correspondence. In that case, the Commission will send all future electronic correspondence addressed to you only to that private address, and it will use only that private address to reply to your request. You should still remain responsible to inform the private third-party website about this change of how you wish to communicate with, and receive a reply from, the Commission.
For information on how we process your personal data visit our page Privacy statement – access to documents.
Yours faithfully,
Access to documents team (rc)
SG.C.1
Transparency
To the Secretariat General, European Commission
This is to point out that your reply to GESTDEM 2021/2695 is long overdue.
The request is relatively simple and it does not - presumably - concern a lot of documents.
When can I expect a reply?
Yours sincerely,
Kenneth Haar
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
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2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Mr Haar,
Sorry for the time taken to deal with your request due to internal searches and consultations;
We are now preparing our answer to your request.
We will be in a position to deliver our answer before 25 of June or before.
We apologise for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause.
Yours sincerely,
FISMA ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS TEAM
Dear Sir,
Please find attached an advance copy of the reply to your confirmatory
request for access to documents registered under the number GESTDEM
2021/540.
Yours faithfully,
Access to documents team (cr)
SG.C.1
Transparency
Berl. 07/251
[1]cid:image004.gif@01D4F9CD.7B22B0F0
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To DG FISMA
This is to remind you about GESTDEM 2021/2695 - a request that is long overdue.
In your latest message you said you would reply by today at the latest.
Yours sincerely,
Kenneth Haar
Dear Mr Haar,
The draft answer was finalized and is currently at the signing stage.
You will receive our answer no later than next week on 30 June or before.
We apologise for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause.
Yours sincerely,
FISMA ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS TEAM
To DG FISMA
Can I ask why you have not yet replied to GESTDEM 2021/2695?
It is severely overdue .
Yours sincerely,
Kenneth Haar
To the European Commission and DG FISMA
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 GESTDEM 2021/2695, titled 'BlackRock report on ESG factors'. The request concerned the following three parts:
- The final version of the report written by BlackRock on integration of ESG factors into banks' risk strategies, including annexes.
- All written communication, including emails, between DG FISMA and BlackRock on the report mentioned above since 1. December 2020.
- Minutes of meetings between BlackRock and DG FISMA concerning the report mentioned above since 1. December 2020.
On all three points, DG FISMA rejected any disclosure of any document. On all three accounts, I find that to be in breach of Regulation 1049/2001 for the following reasons:
1. The final version of the report
The report was – according to the information in the letter of reply – delivered to DG FISMA on 1 April this year. There is no indication of the report being changed in the meantime as this part of the process happened before the delivery of the final report. To design a procedure of approval that takes more than three months appears very strange and no justification is cited in the letter.
If specific parts were eligible for publication, they could have been released, as could the public annexes. Yet, DG FISMA chose not to give me any documents whatsoever.
As for the non-public annexes, it is claimed that the exception laid down in Article 4(2) first indent of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 on commercial secrets apply. But in that the names of the interviewees could have been anonymised, the risk of disclosing commercial secrets could have been neutralised.
2. Written communication with BlackRock and minutes of meetings between the two parties
DG FISMA argues that “the disclosure of those documents could affect the decision-making process of the Commission, as it would reveal preliminary views and policy options which are currently under consideration; the Commission's services must be free to explore all possible options in preparation of a decision free from external pressure.”
The answer to this request is puzzling in that DG FISMA has argued earlier that in “the case of the study in question, those services are mostly of a technical and analytical nature”. Given this view, it is difficult to see how the communication between DG FISMA and BlackRock can become sensitive. And even if it is the case that DG FISMA has changed its view on the nature of the study, reference to the exceptions in Regulation 1049/2001 are not convincing.
- Presumably the conclusions in the report – the part of the report that was not included when the interim study was released in December 2020 – was for BlackRock to develop on the basis of its study. Yet, with the wording in the letter of rejection, it appears DG FISMA had a political discussion about what appropriate actions to suggest. If DG FISMA feels it is appropriate to have that conversation with one of the key players on the global lobbying scene around sustainable finance, it is certainly appropriate for the public to know, and where necessary add other opinions to the discussion.
- The reference to protection of personal data, the deletion of names and/or organisations, hardly represents a problem. Plenty of information can be released after such deletions.
- Once names and institutions are deleted, if necessary, their way of addressing the problems under investigation was the whole intention behind the study – to identify ‘best practices´. Commercial secrets cannot come into play once the identity of the interviewees is stricken.
To the extent that the above arguments are not accepted, I argue that there are overriding reasons of public interest in the report and the procedures around it. The report is about a crucial part of any strategy on sustainable finance, that of banking regulation. That is why DG FISMA had to endure such a strong reaction from the European Parliament on the matter, not to mention the public reaction, when the contract was awarded to BlackRock. How the European Commission addresses climate change and its implications for financial markets is crucial, as I am sure the Commission would agree. To say that how DG FISMA goes about discussing policy options with a financial corporation with a vested interest must be kept out of the public domain to ensure there is no external pressure, is a mistake. On that note, it appears the European Commission is aware of this. In connection with the launch of the new strategy on sustainable finance - a strategy in which the European Commission refers to an early version of the BlackRock study – a spokesperson claimed in a comment to Politico: “In all the preparatory work leading to our proposals, the commission has been fully transparent and inclusive” (Politico, 1 July 2021).
With this in mind, I ask for a review of the decision to reject access to documents.
With kind regards
Kenneth Haar
Overgaden oven Vandet 12
1415 Copenhagen K
Denmark
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/...
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your email dated 14/07/2021 by which you request, pursuant
to Regulation No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament,
Council and Commission documents, a review of the position taken by DG
FISMA in reply to your initial application GESTDEM 2021/2695.
We hereby acknowledge receipt of your confirmatory application for access
to documents which was registered on 15/07/2021 (Ares(2021)4581337).
Your application will be handled within 15 working days (06/08/2021). In
case this time limit needs to be extended, you will be informed in due
course.
Please be informed that the answer to your confirmatory application is a
formal Commission decision that will be notified to you by express
delivery. Thank you for providing your contact phone number, so that the
external delivery service can contact you in case of absence.
Please note that the Commission will not use your phone number for any
other purpose than for informing the delivery service, and that it will
delete it immediately thereafter.
Yours faithfully,
Access to documents team (cr)
SG.C.1
Transparency
Link: [1]File-List
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Link: [4]colorSchemeMapping
[5]Your confirmatory application for access to documents under Regulation
(EC) No 1049/2001 - GESTDEM 2021/2695 - 1st holding letter -
Ares(2021)4999963 (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 Mr Haar,
I refer to your email of 14 July 2021, registered on 15 July 2021, by
which you submit a confirmatory application in accordance with Article
7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European
Parliament, Council and Commission documents ("Regulation (EC) No
1049/2001"), registered under reference number above.
Your confirmatory application is currently being handled. Unfortunately,
we have not yet been able to gather all the elements needed to carry out a
full analysis of your request and to take a final decision. Therefore, we
are not in a position to reply to your confirmatory request within the
prescribed time limit which expires on 6 August 2021. Consequently, we
have to extend this period by another 15 working days in accordance with
Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. The new deadline expires on
27 August 2021. However, I can assure you that we are doing our utmost to
provide you with a final reply within the next 15 working days.
I regret this additional delay and sincerely apologise for any
inconvenience this may cause.
Yours sincerely,
María OLIVÁN AVILÉS
Head of Unit
[6]cid:image001.gif@01D13362.41D673C0
European Commission
Secretariat General
SG.C.1 (Transparency, Document Management and Access to Documents)
References
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5. https://webgate.ec.testa.eu/Ares/documen...
Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [3]themeData
Link: [4]colorSchemeMapping
Dear Mr Haar,
We would like to kindly remind you of our clarification request.
Kind regards,
ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS TEAM
[5]cid:image001.gif@01D13362.41D673C0
European Commission
Secretariat-General
SG C.1 – Transparency, Document Management & Access to Documents
[6][email address]
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6. mailto:[email address]
Dear Mr Kenneth Haar,
Please find attached the electronic version of Commission Decision
C(2022)7549 as adopted by the European Commission on 18.10.2022.
The formal notification of the decision under Article 297 TFEU is being
made only in electronic form.
Could you please confirm receipt of the attached document by return
e-mail?
Many thanks in advance.
Kind regards,
MARTIN GALAN MARIA SERENA
[1]cid:image001.gif@01D88728.8C45B5D0
Secrétariat général de la Commission
SG B2 - Procédures écrites, habilitation, délégation
BERL 5/155
' +32-2-299.59.48
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Dear Ms / Dear Mr,
It is very important for us.
Please, could you please acknowledge the receipt of the document enclosed
in the message addressed to you ?
MARTIN GALAN MARIA SERENA
[1]cid:image001.gif@01D88728.8C45B5D0
Secrétariat général de la Commission
SG B2 - Procédures écrites, habilitation, délégation
BERL 5/155
' +32-2-299.59.48
From: SG GREFFE CERTIFICATION
Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2022 4:03 PM
To: '[FOI #9381 email]'
<[FOI #9381 email]>
Cc: PROTOPSALTI Dimitra (SG) <[email address]>
Subject: C (2022) 7549 final addressed to Mr Kenneth Haar
Dear Mr Kenneth Haar,
Please find attached the electronic version of Commission Decision
C(2022)7549 as adopted by the European Commission on 18.10.2022.
The formal notification of the decision under Article 297 TFEU is being
made only in electronic form.
Could you please confirm receipt of the attached document by return
e-mail?
Many thanks in advance.
Kind regards,
MARTIN GALAN MARIA SERENA
[2]cid:image001.gif@01D88728.8C45B5D0
Secrétariat général de la Commission
SG B2 - Procédures écrites, habilitation, délégation
BERL 5/155
' +32-2-299.59.48
References
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