Dear Human Resources and Security,

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:

I hereby request access to the following documents:

All documents related to the administrative decision(s) granting paid or unpaid leave to Margaret Tuite, who served as Child Rights Coordinator in the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUSTICE), commencing in August 2018. This includes, but is not limited to:

- Internal correspondence, memos, or reports initiating, approving, or reviewing the leave arrangement.

- Any assessments of the operational impact of the leave on the Child Rights Coordinator role, including contingency plans or interim arrangements.

- Records of any extensions or modifications to the leave status during the period from August 2018 to May 2022.

All documents related to the administrative decision(s) approving the early retirement of Margaret Tuite, effective 1 May 2022. This includes, but is not limited to:

- Internal correspondence, memos, or reports initiating, approving, or reviewing the early retirement application.

- Any calculations, eligibility assessments, or financial implications of the early retirement, including pension entitlements and any associated costs to the Commission.

- Records of any consultations with HR services, line management, or other relevant units regarding the retirement.

These requests cover the period from March 2018 (to capture preparatory documents) up to and including June 2022 (to capture any post-retirement administrative follow-up). I request access in electronic format (e.g., PDF) where possible, with full, unredacted copies unless redactions are strictly justified under the exceptions in Article 4 of Regulation 1049/2001.

This request is made in the overriding public interest. Margaret Tuite held a senior and publicly visible position as the EU's Child Rights Coordinator, responsible for coordinating EU-wide policies on children's rights, including protection against exploitation, violence, and trafficking—issues of paramount importance to EU citizens and vulnerable groups.

Her extended leave (over three and a half years) followed immediately by early retirement represents an unusual administrative arrangement for such a high-profile role, potentially raising questions about continuity in child rights policy implementation, resource allocation, and accountability in DG JUSTICE. Transparency in these decisions is essential to ensure public trust in the Commission's handling of key human rights mandates, particularly given the EU's commitments under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child.

Since her pre-retirement leave and subsequent early retirement, Ms. Tuite has become active in the adoption lobby, including as Chair of the Child Rights International Network (CRIN) and Vice-President of Defence for Children International (DCI), which may prompt scrutiny regarding the alignment of her post-retirement activities with her prior EU duties. Furthermore, there is a lingering scandal surrounding Ms. Tuite's alleged decision, during her tenure, to remove the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) from the EU Acquis Communautaire list and replace it with the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. This action has been criticized by child rights advocates as prioritizing intercountry adoption frameworks over broader child rights protections, potentially undermining the EU's alignment with international standards. These factors underscore the unusual nature of her departure and the need for public oversight.

I submit that exceptions to disclosure under Article 4(1)(b) (privacy and the protection of personal data) should not apply here, or should be narrowly interpreted. Ms. Tuite's professional role was inherently public-facing, with her activities and decisions directly impacting EU child protection frameworks and documented in official Commission publications. The public interest in scrutinizing administrative decisions affecting such roles clearly outweighs any residual privacy concerns, as affirmed by the case law of the Court of Justice of the EU (e.g., Case C-28/08 P, Commission v. The Daily Telegraph, emphasizing the broad scope of public interest in transparency for senior officials). This is not a routine personnel matter but one with broader implications for the effective functioning of child rights coordination at the EU level.

Yours faithfully,

Arun Dohle
Against Child Trafficking
c/o Easy Start Office
Kraijenhoffstraat 137A
Amsterdam
Netherlands 1018 RG

Dear Human Resources and Security,

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 'Arrangements for early departure Margaret Tuite, Child Rights Coordinator'.

The legal limit has passed.
Please provide public access in the public interest asap, but in any case within the legal limit.

There is a precedent, Cases need to be treated equally.

A full history of my request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.asktheeu.org/request/arrange...

Yours faithfully,

Arun Dohle

Dear Human Resources and Security,

Please request the SecGen to confirm registration of the confirmatory appeal and set time limit.

Yours faithfully,

Arun Dohle

Dear Human Resources and Security,

Please request the General Secretariat to register the confirmatory appeal.

Yours faithfully,

Arun Dohle

Subject: Clarification and Confirmatory Application Regarding Access to Documents Requests - EASE 2026/0023 and Related Matters

Dear Mr. Stephen Quest,

I am writing in response to your letter dated, registered under reference number EASE 2026/0023, concerning my request for access to the curriculum vitae of Mrs. Margaret Tuite, former European Child Rights Coordinator.

First, I must express my profound surprise and disappointment at the Commission's assertion that it holds no documents corresponding to Mrs. Tuite's CV. Given her prominent role within the institution, particularly in coordinating child rights policies, it strains credibility that no such professional record exists in the Commission's possession. CVs of senior officials are routinely maintained for accountability, transparency, and institutional memory, especially for individuals involved in high-profile matters such as the implementation of international conventions on children's rights.

Moreover, there appears to be a significant administrative confusion in the handling of my requests submitted via AsktheEU.org. Yesterday, I received a notification from the Commission requesting an extension for processing my specific request for Mrs. Tuite's CV (accessible at: https://www.asktheeu.org/request/cv_marg...). However, the denial letter attached today—stating that no CV exists—was erroneously linked to my separate request concerning arrangements for Mrs. Tuite's early departure (accessible at: https://www.asktheeu.org/request/arrange...).

This mix-up not only undermines confidence in the Commission's document management processes but also raises questions about the diligence applied to freedom of information requests under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.In light of these issues, I hereby submit a confirmatory application, as provided for under Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, requesting that the Commission review its position and conduct a thorough search for any documents related to Mrs. Tuite's CV. I urge you to rectify the apparent conflation of my two distinct requests and provide clear, separate responses to each.

On a broader note, this situation exacerbates my ongoing concerns regarding the transparency and accountability surrounding Mrs. Tuite's tenure. As the Child Rights Coordinator, she was centrally involved in controversial decisions, including the prioritization of the Hague Adoption Convention over the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has been the subject of significant public scrutiny and scandal.

The lack of accessible documentation, combined with administrative errors in handling these requests, only heightens worries about potential obfuscation in matters of profound public interest affecting children's rights across the European Union.I kindly request that this confirmatory application be processed expeditiously and that I be kept informed of its progress.

Of course all this should be considered in light of the ongoing issue of Mrs. Roelie Post's whistleblowing status, acknowledged by the Dutch Parliament and the Dutch House for Whistleblowers - but not by the European Commission (contrary to your own internal whistleblower procedures).

Please forward this to the General Secretariat for confirmatory appeal and a Commission Decision.

Should you require any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Arun Dohle
Against Chiild Trafficking

Dear HR MAIL B1,
Please confirm receipt and forwarding to SecGen.

Yours sincerely,

Arun Dohle