Defis - PFAS lobbying
Dear Defence Industry and Space,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, and further to my previous request 2024-3013 from 6 June 2024, I would like to request access to the following documents related to lobbying on PFAS, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including on the proposed universal PFAS restriction. In particular I would like:
1. A list of all meetings/ discussions held since 6 June 2024 between officials and or Commissioners with lobby organisations where this topic was discussed.
2. Any records, minutes, preparatory briefings, or other notes of these meetings/discussions, including correspondence which set-up, or was follow-up to, these meetings.
3. All correspondence since the above date, where this topic was raised, as exchanged between officials and or Commissioners with lobby organisations.
4. In addition I would like to receive a list of all studies or impact assessments which the DG has contracted out, or undertaken on, PFAS including the proposed universal PFAS restriction, and copies of these studies.
Please note that I am tabling similar requests to the Secretariat-General, Grow, Environment, Trade, Energy, Sante, Clima, JRC, Move, Agri, Cnect, and RTD. I look forward to receiving the respective documents accordingly.
Thank you in advance.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
CEO
Rue d’Edimbourg 26
1050 BXL
Dear Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents
sent on 05/03/2025 and registered on 05/03/2025 under the case number
2025/1293.
We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 26/03/2025. We will let you know
if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working days.
To find more information on how we process your personal data, please see
[1]the privacy statement.
Yours faithfully,
Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission
References
Visible links
1. https://ec.europa.eu/info/principles-and...
Hello,
We are writing concerning your request for access to Commission documents
registered on 05.03.2025 under case number 2025/1293,
We are currently working on your request. However, we have not yet been
able to gather all the elements necessary to carry out a full analysis of
your request. We will not be able to send you the reply within the
prescribed time limit expiring on 26.03.2025.
The application concerns documents held by different Services, which must
be consulted.
Therefore, in line with Article 7(3) of [1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001,
we need to extend this time limit by 15 additional working days. The new
time limit expires on 16.04.2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Hello,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/1293.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
Dear Defence Industry and Space,
Thank you for the documents for 2025-1293.
Please pass this on to the person who reviews confirmatory applications. I would like to challenge the refusal to provide document 9, Report - ECHA Public Consultation on PFAS, and the redactions of document 8, Briefing Meeting EEB 17/12/24.
Firstly, I would like to point out that the content of document 9 is not made clear.
Secondly, in your letter, with regard to document 9, DEFIS argues that "There is a reasonably foreseeable and not a purely hypothetical risk that the disclosure of certain parts of the identified documents would undermine the protection of public security and defence and military matters. Therefore said document ought to be fully withheld."
I would like this to be reviewed, both the statement that "There is a reasonably foreseeable and not a purely hypothetical risk that the disclosure of certain parts of the identified documents would undermine the protection of public security and defence and military matters" and secondly, the conclusion that the whole document is to be withheld, rather than just "certain parts".
Issues to do with PFAS are of great public concern and the refusal to provide any part of document 9 seems very excessive on these grounds.
Thirdly, in relation to the refusals relating to documents 8 and 9, under the protection of ongoing decision-making, it is not clear what information "can be sensitive from a public interest perspective." Indeed no further information is provided on this point; nor any real explanation as to why this should lead to the redaction of document 8 and the refusal of document 9.
Fourthly, the Commission states that "Having regard to the ongoing nature of the decision-making process in the above-mentioned matter, disclosure of parts of the information would seriously undermine the decision making within the Commission and at inter-institutional level." However this is not explained in any way. I note that the European Ombudsman's office has previously noted that "The fact that the decision making was ongoing cannot be an argument in itself to refuse disclosure" (case 1053/2023/MIK)).
I would like to received as complete as possible copies of documents 8 and 9 as soon as possible.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
Dear Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2025/1293, sent on 02/06/2025 and registered on 02/06/2025.
We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 24/06/2025. We will let
you know if we need to extend this time limit for additional 15 working
days.
Yours faithfully,
Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission
Dear Ms Cann,
We are writing concerning your confirmatory request for access to
Commission documents for case EASE 2025/1293 registered on 02/06/2025.
We are currently working on your confirmatory request. However, we have
not yet been able to gather all the elements necessary to carry out a full
analysis of your request. Due to the need to conduct internal
consultations, we will not be able to send you the reply within the
prescribed time limit expiring on 24/06/2025.
Therefore, in line with Article 8(2) of [1]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 we
need to extend this time limit by 15 additional working days. The new time
limit expires on 15/07/2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
SG A2 - Access to documents team
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Ms Cann,
We are writing concerning your confirmatory request for access to
Commission documents for case EASE 2025/1293 registered on 02/06/2025.
We are currently working on your confirmatory request. However, we have
not yet been able to gather all the elements necessary to carry out a full
analysis of your request.
Due to the need to conduct internal consultations, we will not be able to
send you the reply within the prescribed time limit expiring on
24/06/2025.
Therefore, in line with Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 we
need to extend this time limit by 15 additional working days. The new time
limit expires on 15/07/2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
SG A2 - Access to documents team
Dear CANN, Vicky,
Please find attached the electronic version of European Commission
Decision C(2026) 804 as adopted by the European Commission on 03/02/2026
concerning the request 2025/1293.
In accordance with the Terms and Conditions of this portal, please note
that this decision is being formally notified pursuant to article 297 TFEU
through this electronic platform only.
Yours sincerely,
Access to documents team - SG.A.2