Dear European External Action Service,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting the EEAS audit report on weapons supplied by member states to Ukraine since February 2022, which was set to be completed earlier this year, as reported by the Financial Times on January 16, 2024. (See: https://www.ft.com/content/af95ad49-2529...)

Yours faithfully,

Alexander Fanta
Follow the Money
Rue Auguste Orts 2
1000 Bruxelles

Dear Ms Promelle, dear EEAS team,

I am filing the following confirmatory application with regards to my access to documents request 'Audit of weapons supplied by member states to Ukraine since February 2022'.

The reply I received on 22 May in response to my original request argues that disclosure of the document in question would “expose data relevant for strategic military and defence planning” and “reveal potential vulnerabilities of Ukraine and EU Member States armed forces which would be exploited by Russia and other adverse actors to the EU”, thus invoking the exception for defence and military matters in Article 4(1)(a), second indent.

I am aware of the potential sensitivity of the information in question, however, I wish to point out that several member states of the EU are publishing at least some information on arms deliveries to Ukraine. The Netherlands, for instance, has published an extensive list of weapons delivered. The Dutch government has stated that it will make said information public “as much as possible” without jeopardising operational security. According to the Dutch government website, “the information helps to further public debate about the war. Greater openness is also in line with how partner countries and industry deal with it.” [1]

Germany, too, has published extensive information about its military support for Ukraine. [2] I believe that these policies of extensive disclosure should set the standard on the EU level, enabling at least partial disclosure of the document in question.

Kind regards,

Alexander Fanta