Information regarding infringement cases on the transposition of the EU copyright directive

Mathias Schindler a fait une demande de Accès à l'information à Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

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Mathias Schindler

Dear Communications Networks, Content and Technology,

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:

On July 23, 2021, the Eurioean Commission initiated the following infringement cases, all related to the transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC:

INFR(2021)0362 (Slovakia)
INFR(2021)0354 (Slovenia)
INFR(2021)0337 (Romania)
INFR(2021)0321 (Poland)
INFR(2021)0296 (Latvia)
INFR(2021)0289 (Luxemburg)
INFR(2021)0279 (Lithuania)
INFR(2021)0270 (Italy)
INFR(2021)0262 (Ireland)
INFR(2021)0251 (Croatia)
INFR(2021)0241 (France)
INFR(2021)0224 (Spain)
INFR(2021)0212 (Greece)
INFR(2021)0203 (Estonia)
INFR(2021)0196 (Denmark)
INFR(2021)0185 (Czechia)
INFR(2021)0173 (Cyprus)
INFR(2021)0160 (Bulgaria)
INFR(2021)0149 (Belgium)
INFR(2021)0137 (Austria)

I am requesting all information held by the European Commission and its DGs and Agencies concerning the transposition of this Directive into national law and the infringement cases concerning this matter. This includes all internal and external conversation in email, writing, notes, memos, briefings as well as any inter- or intra-service-consultation.

Information and Documents such as comments by the Commission on ongoing or completed transposition work is to be considered within the scope of this request.

Information and Documents are to be understood in a broadest possible sense, including those information which is not considered important and not subject to archival or filing rules.

In case the Commission considers this to be a case concerning many documents ("wide scope request"), I am disputing this assessment. However, in the interest of finding a fair solution, I am willing to consider proposals for splitting this request up into multiple requests for single infringement cases.

Yours faithfully,

Mathias Schindler

SG ACCES DOCUMENTS, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

Dear Sir,

We hereby acknowledge receipt of your application for access to documents,
which was registered on 24/08/2021 under reference number GESTDEM
2021/5197.

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 15/09/2021. 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

Afficher les sections citées

CNECT-PUBLIC-ACCESS-TO-DOCUMENTS, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

1 Attachment

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [3]themeData
Link: [4]colorSchemeMapping

[5]Holding reply - Your application for access to documents RefGestDem
2021/5197 - Ares(2021)5657908  (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 Schindler,

 

We refer to your request for access to documents, registered  under the
abovementioned reference number.   

 

Your application is currently being handled. However, we will not be in a
position to complete the handling of your application within the time
limit of 15 working days, which expires today.  

 

An extended time limit is needed as different Commission services must be
consulted.    

 

Therefore, we have to extend the time limit with 15 working days in
accordance with Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding
public access to documents. The new time limit expires on 6 October 2021. 

 

We apologise for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause.  

 

Yours faithfully, 

 

DG CONNECT Access to Documents Team

 

[6]cid:image001.png@01D3AF19.959C0670

European Commission

DG Connect – ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS

BU25 – Avenue de Beaulieu 25

B-1160 Brussels/Belgium

 

 

References

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1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D7AA45.1133C5F0
2. file:///tmp/cid:editdata.mso
3. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
4. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
5. https://webgate.ec.testa.eu/Ares/documen...

CNECT-PUBLIC-ACCESS-TO-DOCUMENTS, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

1 Attachment

Advance copy by e-mail and registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt

Dear Mr Schindler,

Please find attached document Ares(2021)5703796 regarding "Your application for access to documents - Ref GestDem 2021/5197" sent by Mr Roberto Viola, General Director of DG CONNECT on 17/09/2021.

Best regards,

European Commission
DG CONNECT — ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS
Avenue de Beaulieu, 25
B-1160 Brussels/Belgium

Liebe Generaldirektion CNECT,

Bezogen auf meinen Antrag auf Zugang zu Dokumenten GestDem 2021/5197 möchte ich einen Zweitantrag stellen und bitte um die Weiterleitung an die dafür zuständige Person.

Ich halte die Entscheidung der Europäischen Kommission und die Verweigerung des Zuganges zu Informationen aus den folgenden Gründen für unzulässig:

1. Scope of the Request - I -

Die Kommission hat nicht alle Dokumente identifiziert, die von der Anfrage erfasst wurden. Dazu zählen Memos, Emails, Briefe und vorbereitende Dokumente und Entwürfe innerhalb der Kommission und ihrer Dienststellen. Die Europäische Kommission hat hier unzulässigerweise den Kreis der erfassten Dokumente eingeschränkt, ohne dass dies vom Wortlaut und dem Sinn der Verordnung gedeckt ist.

2. Scope of the Request - II -

Die Kommission hat im Schreiben vom 17. September an mich in Punkt 2 vier Kategorien an Dokumenten genannt, die aus ihrer Sicht von der Anfrage erfasst sind. Diese Form der kategoriehaften Aufzählung ist unzulässig. In allen Artikeln der Verordnung wird grundsätzlich von Dokumenten gesprochen, nicht von Kategorien von Dokumenten. Die Kommission hätte hier die aus ihrer Sicht unter die Anfrage fallenden Dokumente auflisten müssen, damit eine Anwendung von möglichen Ausnahmekriterien gegen die Herausgabe überhaupt möglich ist. Durch die Nichtangabe, welche Dokumente (insbesondere in den Kategorien A bis C) überhaupt erfasst sind, sind alle weiteren Schritte eines ordnungsgemäßen Verfahrens zur Herausgabe von Dokumenten kompromittiert.

3. Nichtherausgabe - I -

Die Kommission beruft sich pauschal und ohne Berücksichtigung der Natur der einzelnen Dokumente auf Artikel 4(2), 3. Alternative der Verordnung. Sie verwendet dabei sogar Textbausteine, die über "abovementioned documents" reden, was ja nicht erfolgt ist, da die Dokumente an keiner Stelle ausdrücklich referenziert werden. Diese pauschale Behauptung auf eine ganze Gruppe unterschiedlicher Dokumente entzieht sich jeder Überprüfbarkeit und ist ungeeignet, die Herausgabeverweigerung zu begründen.

4. Nichtherausgabe - II - Öffentliches Interesse

Auch hier hat die Kommission unzulässigerweise nicht die Vorgaben der Verordnung eingehalten. Es findet in dem Bescheid keinerlei Berücksichtigung des außerordentlich großen Interesses der Öffentlichkeit statt. Die Reform des Urheberrechts in Europa und die nun laufende Umsetzung der europarechtlichen Vorgaben in nationales Recht werden seit Jahren von einer kritischen und besorgten Öffentlichkeit begleitet, dies gilt für jeden Teil des legislativen Verfahrens und die begleitende Arbeit z.B. der Gerichte, die Vereinbarkeit dieser Vorschriften der Urheberrechtsrichtlinie mit höherrangigem EU-Recht zu prüfen. Kein einziger Aspekt wurde durch die Kommission geprüft, eine pauschale Behauptung des Fehlenden überwiegenden Interesses der Öffentlichkeit ist daher völlig ausgeschlossen. Dabei hätte die Kommission insbesondere ihre eigene Rolle bei der Beurteile dieses Interesses berücksichtigen müssen, da sie nicht nur als Hüterin der Verträge eine wichtige Funktion hat, sondern auch durch ihre laufende Arbeit bei der Interpretation z.B. von Artikel 17 der Verordnung (z.B. COM/2021/288 final) eine mehr als aktive Rolle bei der noch laufenden Debatte einnimmt und gleichzeitig die Befugnis hat, abweichende Interpretationen mittels Vertragsverletzungsverfahrens zu sanktionieren.

5. Nichtherausgabe - III - Teilweise Herausgabe -

Die Europäische Kommission behauptet in ihrem Schreiben vom 17. September, dass ausnahmslos alle Teile der Dokumente unter den Ausnahmetatbestand von Artikel 4(2) fallen und daher eine teilweise Herausgabe der Dokumente nicht möglich ist. Mangels Identifikation der tatsächlich erfassten Dokumente ist diese Behauptung haltlos, aber auch darüber hinaus völlig realitätsfremd. Ausnahmen - auch und gerade wenn wenn sie von einer Vermutungsregelung gedeckt sein sollten - sind grundsätzlich eng auszulegen. Artikel 4(2) dritte Alternative dient dem "Schutz des Zwecks von Inspektions-, Untersuchungs- und Audittätigkeiten.". Es ist demnach nicht die Tätigkeit der Inspektion, Untersuchung oder des Audits direkt erfasst, sondern nur der dahinterstehende Zweck. Selbst wenn man unterstellt, dass Teile der identifizierten Dokumente Passagen enthalten, deren Hausgabe an dieser Stelle die Beeinträchtigung des Schutzes dieses Zweckes zur Folge hätte, kann dies nicht für die Teile gelten, an denen nur strukturelle Informationen oder beiläufige Angaben gemacht werden. Auch wenn die Kommission sich auf eine Vermutungsregel stützen will, kann sie dies nicht pauschal für alle Teile aller Vertragsverletzungsverfahren machen, sondern muss sich einen Bezugspunkt in der Wirklichkeit, bezogen auf den konkreten Fall suchen. Dies hat sie unterlassen.

Eine Herausgabe von Informationen oder Teilen davon, die z.B. förmliche Mitteilungen aus Kategorie B umfassen, würden weiterhin den Schutz des Zwecks der in Artikel 4(2) Dritte Alternative genannten Tätigkeiten sicherstellen. Gerade weil es sich hier um förmliche Benachrichtungen handelt, ist anzunehmen, dass ein signifikanter Teil dieser Dokumente in Struktur und Inhalte bereits durch das Verfahren vorgegeben sind. Gleiches gilt für die Dokumente der Kategorien A und C.

Den Verlauf der bisherigen Anfrage mit den dazugehörigen Schreiben der auskunftspflichtigen Stele finden Sie auf https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/info...

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Mathias Schindler

Sg-Acc-Doc@ec.europa.eu, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

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 ACCES DOCUMENTS, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

Sehr geehrter Herr Schindler,

vielen Dank für Ihre E-Mail vom 21/09/2021, in der Sie gemäß der
Verordnung Nr. 1049/2001 über den Zugang der Öffentlichkeit zu Dokumenten
des Europäischen Parlaments, des Rates und der Kommission um eine
Überprüfung des Standpunkts des GD CNECT zu Ihrem Erstantrag GESTDEM
2021/5197 bitten.

Hiermit bestätigen wir den Eingang Ihres Zweitantrags auf Zugang zu
Dokumenten, der am 21/09/2021 registriert wurde (Ares(2021)5759546).

Ihr Antrag wird binnen 15 Werktagen (bis zum 12/10/2021) bearbeitet.
Sollte diese Frist verlängert werden müssen, werden Sie schnellstmöglich
darüber informiert.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass die Beantwortung Ihres Zweitantrags eine
förmliche Entscheidung der Kommission ist, die Ihnen als Eilsendung
zugestellt wird. Sie haben die Möglichkeit, uns die Telefonnummer einer
Kontaktperson mitzuteilen (per E-Mail an [email address]), damit
der externe Zustelldienst Sie bei Abwesenheit kontaktieren kann.

Bitte beachten Sie, dass Ihre Telefonnummer von der Kommission
ausschließlich zur Weiterleitung an den Zustelldienst verwendet und
unmittelbar danach gelöscht wird.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen,

Access to documents team
SG.C.1
Transparency

Afficher les sections citées

Dear SG ACCES DOCUMENTS,

bitte verwenden Sie folgende Adresse, sollten sie *zusätzlich* zu einer Emailbenachrichtigung auch per Post Dokumente schicken wollen:

Mathias Schindler
Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e.V.
Boyenstraße 41
10115 Berlin
Deutschland

Yours sincerely,

Mathias Schindler

SG ACCES DOCUMENTS, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

1 Attachment

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [3]themeData
Link: [4]colorSchemeMapping

[5]Your confirmatory application for access to documents under Regulation
(EC) No 1049/2001 - GESTDEM 2021/5197 - 1st holding letter -
Ares(2021)6234719  (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 Schindler,

We refer to your email of 21 September 2021, registered on the same day,
by which you submitted 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[6]^[1] ("Regulation
(EC) No 1049/2001").

 

Your confirmatory application is currently being handled. Unfortunately,
we have not 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
were not in a position to reply to your confirmatory request within the
prescribed time limit which expired on 12 October 2021. The new deadline
expires on 4 November 2021.

 

We apologise for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause but
we would like to assure you that we will do our utmost to provide you with
a reply as soon as possible.

 

Thank you for your understanding.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

María OLIVÁN AVILÉS
Head of Unit

[7]cid:image001.gif@01D13362.41D673C0

European Commission

Secretariat General

Unit C.1 (Transparency, Document Management and Access to Documents)

 

------------------------

[8][1]               Official Journal L 145 of 31.5.2001, p. 43.

References

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1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D7C029.BFDB6E60
2. file:///tmp/cid:editdata.mso
3. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
4. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
5. https://webgate.ec.testa.eu/Ares/documen...
6. file:///tmp/foiextract20220117-6569-1uf348l#_ftn1
8. file:///tmp/foiextract20220117-6569-1uf348l#_ftnref1

SG ACCES DOCUMENTS, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

1 Attachment

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [3]themeData
Link: [4]colorSchemeMapping

[5]holding letter - 2021-5197 - Ares(2021)6802900  (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 Schindler,

 

We refer to your email of 21 September 2021, registered on the same day,
by which you submitted 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"). We also refer to our holding letter of 13 October 2021.

 

Your confirmatory application is currently being handled. Unfortunately,
we still have not been able to gather all the elements needed to carry out
a full analysis of your request. Therefore, we are not in a position to
reply to your confirmatory request within the prescribed time limit which
expires on 4 November 2021.

 

Please accept our sincere apologies for this delay. We apologise for any
inconvenience this may cause, but we would like to assure you that we will
do our utmost to provide you with a reply as soon as possible.

 

Thank you for your understanding.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

María OLIVÁN AVILÉS
Head of Unit

[6]cid:image001.gif@01D13362.41D673C0

European Commission

Secretariat General

Unit C.1 (Transparency, Document Management and Access to Documents)

 

References

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1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D7D222.63CBCA60
2. file:///tmp/cid:editdata.mso
3. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
4. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
5. https://webgate.ec.testa.eu/Ares/documen...

SG ACCES DOCUMENTS, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

1 Attachment

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [3]themeData
Link: [4]colorSchemeMapping

[5]Gestdem 2021-5197 - Clarification request - Ares(2022)1775927  (Please
use this link only if you are an Ares user – Svp, utilisez ce lien
exclusivement si vous êtes un(e) utilisateur d’Ares)

Subject: Your application for access to documents RefGestDem 2021/5197

Dear Mr Schindler,

We refer to your request for access to documents dated 24 August 2021 and
registered under the abovementioned reference number. We also refer to
your email dated 21 September 2021 wherein you submitted a confirmatory
application in accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation 1049/2001.

Your confirmatory application is currently being handled and the work on
it is fully ongoing. In this context, we would like to sincerely apologise
for the delay in handling your request and for any inconvenience this may
cause you. In the course of the handling of your application, it became
apparent that we would need to obtain some clarifications from you in
order to be sure to fully understand the scope of your application and be
able to prepare a full list of the concerned documents.

Your initial application reads as follows:

‘Dear Communications Networks, Content and Technology,

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:

On July 23, 2021, the European Commission initiated the following
infringement cases, all related to the transposition of Directive (EU)
2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on
copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending
Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC:

INFR(2021)0362 (Slovakia)

INFR(2021)0354 (Slovenia)

INFR(2021)0337 (Romania)

INFR(2021)0321 (Poland)

INFR(2021)0296 (Latvia)

INFR(2021)0289 (Luxemburg)

INFR(2021)0279 (Lithuania)

INFR(2021)0270 (Italy)

INFR(2021)0262 (Ireland)

INFR(2021)0251 (Croatia)

INFR(2021)0241 (France)

INFR(2021)0224 (Spain)

INFR(2021)0212 (Greece)

INFR(2021)0203 (Estonia)

INFR(2021)0196 (Denmark)

INFR(2021)0185 (Czechia)

INFR(2021)0173 (Cyprus)

INFR(2021)0160 (Bulgaria)

INFR(2021)0149 (Belgium)

INFR(2021)0137 (Austria)

 

I am requesting all information held by the European Commission and its
DGs and Agencies concerning the transposition of this Directive into
national law and the infringement cases concerning this matter. This
includes all internal and external conversation in email, writing, notes,
memos, briefings, as well as any inter- or intra-service-consultation.

Information and Documents such as comments by the Commission on ongoing or
completed transposition work is to be considered within the scope of this
request.

Information and Documents are to be understood in a broadest possible
sense, including those information which is not considered important and
not subject to archival or filing rules.

In case the Commission considers this to be a case concerning many
documents ("wide scope request"), I am disputing this assessment. However,
in the interest of finding a fair solution, I am willing to consider
proposals for splitting this request up into multiple requests for single
infringement cases.[…]’.

Please note in this regard that the Commission opened infringement
proceedings against 23 Member States for the lack of transposition of
Directive 2019/790 (for more details please see here:
[6]https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-...)

It should be clarified that these cases concern only the non-notification
of complete transposition measures. Such infringements procedures are
launched by the Commission automatically in cases where the Member States
have not notified or only partially notified the text of the provisions of
domestic law transposing an EU directive. The opening of these procedures
is therefore not based on any prior analysis and qualitative assessment on
the compliance of the national law with the EU law like in other
categories of infringement procedures (non-conformity with EU law of
national legislation transposing a directive or incorrect application of a
directive in a Member State).

The infringement procedures for non-communication of complete
transposition measures are closed after the concerned Member State
transmits all the transposition acts and communicates complete
transposition, irrespective of the compliance of the national measure with
EU law.

Following the complete transposition, the Commission services assess the
compliance/conformity of national legislation with EU law. The Commission
aims to carry out such analysis within 16-24 months. Based on this
assessment, the Commission may decide to open infringement proceedings for
non-conformity with EU law. There are currently no infringement
proceedings related to the conformity checks on the copyright directive.

Consequently, compliance and completeness involve separate assessments and
stages and different infringement procedures.                        

The documents relating to the infringement procedures for non-notification
of complete transposition measures  can be classified in the following
categories that were identified in the initial reply sent by DG CNECT to
your request for access to documents, i.e.:

1. Documents relating to Interservice consultations in order to launch the
procedures

2. Letters of formal notice sent by the Commission to Member States and
their Annexes

3. Correspondence from the Member States concerning the infringement
proceedings

4. National transposition measures

Based on the case references in your application, we understand that your
request concerns documents related to the infringement procedures for
non-communication of complete transposition measures which, as described
above, should fall under the categories under point 1-4.  Against this
background, documents relating to information and correspondence with
Member States that communicated full transposition and thus there was no
infringement procedure launched against them for lack of transposition, 
or to information and correspondence with Member State and/or other
stakeholders concerning transposition aspects that are not related to the
infringement cases above were not covered by your request.  Could you
please kindly confirm that our understanding is correct?

Moreover, we understand that you are interested only in the 20 cases
indicated in your request and not in all 23 cases launched by the
Commission (i.e. in the three remaining infringement cases for
non-notification of transposition measures opened against FI, PT and SE). 
Could you please also clarify whether this understanding is correct?

We kindly ask you to reply to us with the requested clarifications by
email to:

[7][email address] including the reference number of the
case GESTDEM 2021-5197

Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation!

Yours faithfully,

Access to documents team (cr)
SG.C.1
Transparency
[8]cid:image004.gif@01D4F9CD.7B22B0F0

 

 

References

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1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D83471.BCE431D0
2. file:///tmp/cid:editdata.mso
3. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
4. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
5. https://webgate.ec.testa.eu/Ares/documen...
6. https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-...
7. mailto:[email address]

SG ACCES DOCUMENTS, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

1 Attachment

Link: [1]File-List
Link: [2]Edit-Time-Data
Link: [3]themeData
Link: [4]colorSchemeMapping

[5]Gestdem 2021-5197 - Clarification request - Ares(2022)1775927 -
Ares(2022)1888814  (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 Schindler,

Please find a kind reminder regarding our request for clarification
concerning your confirmatory application - Gestdem 2021/5197.

Yours faithfully,

Access to documents team (cr)
SG.C.1
Transparency
[6]cid:image004.gif@01D4F9CD.7B22B0F0

From: SG ACCES DOCUMENTS <[7][DG CONNECT request email]>
Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2022 11:28 AM
To: [8][FOI #9886 email]
Subject: Gestdem 2021-5197 - Clarification request - Ares(2022)1775927

 

[9]Gestdem 2021-5197 - Clarification request - Ares(2022)1775927  (Please
use this link only if you are an Ares user – Svp, utilisez ce lien
exclusivement si vous êtes un(e) utilisateur d’Ares)

 

Subject: Your application for access to documents RefGestDem 2021/5197

Dear Mr Schindler,

We refer to your request for access to documents dated 24 August 2021 and
registered under the abovementioned reference number. We also refer to
your email dated 21 September 2021 wherein you submitted a confirmatory
application in accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation 1049/2001.

Your confirmatory application is currently being handled and the work on
it is fully ongoing. In this context, we would like to sincerely apologise
for the delay in handling your request and for any inconvenience this may
cause you. In the course of the handling of your application, it became
apparent that we would need to obtain some clarifications from you in
order to be sure to fully understand the scope of your application and be
able to prepare a full list of the concerned documents.

Your initial application reads as follows:

‘Dear Communications Networks, Content and Technology,

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:

On July 23, 2021, the European Commission initiated the following
infringement cases, all related to the transposition of Directive (EU)
2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on
copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending
Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC:

INFR(2021)0362 (Slovakia)

INFR(2021)0354 (Slovenia)

INFR(2021)0337 (Romania)

INFR(2021)0321 (Poland)

INFR(2021)0296 (Latvia)

INFR(2021)0289 (Luxemburg)

INFR(2021)0279 (Lithuania)

INFR(2021)0270 (Italy)

INFR(2021)0262 (Ireland)

INFR(2021)0251 (Croatia)

INFR(2021)0241 (France)

INFR(2021)0224 (Spain)

INFR(2021)0212 (Greece)

INFR(2021)0203 (Estonia)

INFR(2021)0196 (Denmark)

INFR(2021)0185 (Czechia)

INFR(2021)0173 (Cyprus)

INFR(2021)0160 (Bulgaria)

INFR(2021)0149 (Belgium)

INFR(2021)0137 (Austria)

 

I am requesting all information held by the European Commission and its
DGs and Agencies concerning the transposition of this Directive into
national law and the infringement cases concerning this matter. This
includes all internal and external conversation in email, writing, notes,
memos, briefings, as well as any inter- or intra-service-consultation.

Information and Documents such as comments by the Commission on ongoing or
completed transposition work is to be considered within the scope of this
request.

Information and Documents are to be understood in a broadest possible
sense, including those information which is not considered important and
not subject to archival or filing rules.

In case the Commission considers this to be a case concerning many
documents ("wide scope request"), I am disputing this assessment. However,
in the interest of finding a fair solution, I am willing to consider
proposals for splitting this request up into multiple requests for single
infringement cases.[…]’.

Please note in this regard that the Commission opened infringement
proceedings against 23 Member States for the lack of transposition of
Directive 2019/790 (for more details please see here:
[10]https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-...)

It should be clarified that these cases concern only the non-notification
of complete transposition measures. Such infringements procedures are
launched by the Commission automatically in cases where the Member States
have not notified or only partially notified the text of the provisions of
domestic law transposing an EU directive. The opening of these procedures
is therefore not based on any prior analysis and qualitative assessment on
the compliance of the national law with the EU law like in other
categories of infringement procedures (non-conformity with EU law of
national legislation transposing a directive or incorrect application of a
directive in a Member State).

The infringement procedures for non-communication of complete
transposition measures are closed after the concerned Member State
transmits all the transposition acts and communicates complete
transposition, irrespective of the compliance of the national measure with
EU law.

Following the complete transposition, the Commission services assess the
compliance/conformity of national legislation with EU law. The Commission
aims to carry out such analysis within 16-24 months. Based on this
assessment, the Commission may decide to open infringement proceedings for
non-conformity with EU law. There are currently no infringement
proceedings related to the conformity checks on the copyright directive.

Consequently, compliance and completeness involve separate assessments and
stages and different infringement procedures.                        

The documents relating to the infringement procedures for non-notification
of complete transposition measures  can be classified in the following
categories that were identified in the initial reply sent by DG CNECT to
your request for access to documents, i.e.:

1. Documents relating to Interservice consultations in order to launch the
procedures

2. Letters of formal notice sent by the Commission to Member States and
their Annexes

3. Correspondence from the Member States concerning the infringement
proceedings

4. National transposition measures

Based on the case references in your application, we understand that your
request concerns documents related to the infringement procedures for
non-communication of complete transposition measures which, as described
above, should fall under the categories under point 1-4.  Against this
background, documents relating to information and correspondence with
Member States that communicated full transposition and thus there was no
infringement procedure launched against them for lack of transposition, 
or to information and correspondence with Member State and/or other
stakeholders concerning transposition aspects that are not related to the
infringement cases above were not covered by your request.  Could you
please kindly confirm that our understanding is correct?

Moreover, we understand that you are interested only in the 20 cases
indicated in your request and not in all 23 cases launched by the
Commission (i.e. in the three remaining infringement cases for
non-notification of transposition measures opened against FI, PT and SE). 
Could you please also clarify whether this understanding is correct?

We kindly ask you to reply to us with the requested clarifications by
email to:

[11][email address] including the reference number of the
case GESTDEM 2021-5197

Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation!

Yours faithfully,

Access to documents team (cr)
SG.C.1
Transparency
[12]cid:image004.gif@01D4F9CD.7B22B0F0

 

 

References

Visible links
1. file:///tmp/cid:filelist.xml@01D8385A.4D4D8E10
2. file:///tmp/cid:editdata.mso
3. file:///tmp/~~themedata~~
4. file:///tmp/~~colorschememapping~~
5. https://webgate.ec.testa.eu/Ares/documen...
7. mailto:[DG CONNECT request email]
8. mailto:[FOI #9886 email]
9. https://webgate.ec.testa.eu/Ares/documen...
10. https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-...
11. mailto:[email address]

Mathias Schindler

Dear SG ACCES DOCUMENTS,

"Based on the case references in your application, we understand that your
request concerns documents related to the infringement procedures for
non-communication of complete transposition measures which, as described
above, should fall under the categories under point 1-4. Against this
background, documents relating to information and correspondence with
Member States that communicated full transposition and thus there was no
infringement procedure launched against them for lack of transposition,
or to information and correspondence with Member State and/or other
stakeholders concerning transposition aspects that are not related to the
infringement cases above were not covered by your request. Could you
please kindly confirm that our understanding is correct?"

I invite you to include all information, including documents covered by the cases you described.

"Moreover, we understand that you are interested only in the 20 cases
indicated in your request and not in all 23 cases launched by the
Commission (i.e. in the three remaining infringement cases for
non-notification of transposition measures opened against FI, PT and SE).
Could you please also clarify whether this understanding is correct?"

You are kindly invited to include all 23 cases.

Yours sincerely,

Mathias Schindler

Sg-Acc-Doc@ec.europa.eu, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

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/...

Mathias Schindler

Dear Communications Networks, Content and Technology,

Wie ist der Stand der Beantwortung meines Antrages auf Aktenzugang?

Yours faithfully,

Mathias Schindler

Sg-Acc-Doc@ec.europa.eu, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

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, Réseaux de communication, contenu et technologies

3 Attachments

Dear Mr Schindler,

 

Please find attached a letter and its annex concerning your confirmatory
request for access to documents - Gestdem number 2021/5197.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS TEAM (GD)

 

[1]cid:image001.png@01D45409.F767C980

European Commission

Secretariat-General

SG C.1

[2][email address]

 

 

 

 

 

References

Visible links
2. mailto:[email address]

Mathias Schindler

Dear [email address],
Dear Mariusz Daca,

thank you for your undated letter (electronically signed on May 4 and created as a PDF file on May 5) that arrived on May 5.

I seems that you are attempting to suggest a "fair solution" in accordance with Regulation 1049/2001. I have a copy of the "Guidance Note" "WIDE-SCOPE INITIAL REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS
UNDER REGULATION 1049/2001" dated August 27, 2015 that might apply here. If a newer version exists, please forward it to me at your earliest convenience.

Point 2.2.3 sets out the procedures for such a fair solution. Please note that the Guidance Note actually only refers to Initial Requests but I assume that some analogies can be made here.

The timing of such a proposal for a fair solution is waaaay off. This should have happened last year and it should not be used to further delay processing and handling of an Access to Documents request.

In order to not waste any more time doing nothing, I suggest that you just start processing the release of the documents identified by you in the sequence listed in the annex. Given the constraints, I assume that it would be possible for you to process and release documents 1 - 151. If more documents can be processed, please indicate so.

Yours sincerely,

Mathias Schindler