Energy Omnibus lobbying
Dear Energy,
As you have closed my previous request due my absence over the summer, I am re-submitting it, incorporating your request for more precise information, such as the context, subject matter or relevant dates.
To clarify, the term Energy Omnibus refers to a sweeping Omnibus review of energy policy announced by European Commissioner for Energy Dan Jørgensen in his interview with Contexte, published 13 May 2025 (https://www.contexte.com/eu/article/ener...). It refers to a simplification of energy policies, often claimed to be linked to lowering administrative burden and increasing competitiveness.
Policies that have been mentioned by Commissioner Jørgensen and others include methane regulations, permitting (for renewable and other low-carbon energy projects), accelerating the roll-out of renewables, bringing down energy prices, ensuring competitiveness, and protecting the climate. Specific directives include (but are not limited to) the Renewable Energy Directive (RED), Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), Methane Regulation.
I am interested in efforts to 'simplify' these and other energy regulations in the name of competitiveness, which has been signalled to potentially fall under an 'Energy Omnibus'. While an Energy Omnibus has not been formally announced, Jørgensen and his cabinet have been meeting stakeholders about competitiveness and many of the topics previously mentioned.
Therefore, under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting access to all documents related to lobbying on the proposed ‘Energy Omnibus’ and related topics since 1 January 2025. In particular I would like to request:
1. A list of all meetings/ discussions between officials and or Commissioners with lobby organisations where this topic was discussed. This should include targeted consultations and stakeholder workshops/dialogues.
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, as well as attendance lists. I would also like to receive full notes of any meetings held, and not just the summary notes proactively published by the Commission.
3. All correspondence since the above date, where this topic was raised, as exchanged between officials and or Commissioners with lobby organisations.
4. I would also like to receive all of the above types of documents as they relate to this topic between member state government(s) and the DG or Commissioners.
5. In addition I would like to receive a list of all studies or impact assessments which the DG has contracted out, or undertaken on, this topic.
Yours faithfully,
Pascoe Sabido
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 or Madam,
We are writing to you concerning your request for access to documents sent
on 02/09/2025 and registered on 02/09/2025 under case number 2025/4426.
Since you have not indicated your postal address, we are not able to start
handling your request. The 15 working days to reply to your request will
start running only when you send us your postal address.
You can send your postal address by replying to this e-mail. If we do not
receive your reply we may close this case.
Please note that you can submit a request for access to Commission
documents via the portal [1]'Request a Commission document', which does
not require you to indicate your postal address.
Why do we need your personal postal address?
Since 1 April 2014, the submission of a postal address became a mandatory
feature when submitting an application for access to Commission documents
via an e-mail. We would like to explain why we need your postal address in
order to register and handle your application for access to documents when
submitted via e-mail:
• Firstly, to obtain legal certainty as regards the date you received
the European Commission reply to your application for public access to
documents. Article 297 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union (TFEU) states that 'decisions which specify to whom
they are addressed, shall be notified to those to whom they are
addressed and shall take effect upon such notification.' In line with
this provision, if the Commission does not grant full access to the
requested documents, it notifies the reply to the applicant via
registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt or via delivery
service. This requires an indication of a valid postal address by the
applicant;
• Secondly, to apply correctly the [2]Data Protection Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. Knowing whether the applicant is an EU resident (or not) is
necessary for deciding which conditions shall apply for the
transmissions of personal data to applicants for access to documents.
These conditions are not the same for recipients established in the
Union and for recipients in third countries. As the vast majority of
the documents requested contain personal data, the Commission cannot
ensure the correct application of the data protection rules in the
absence of a postal address;
• Thirdly, to apply correctly [3]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. Article
4(1)(b) of that Regulation refers to the protection of the privacy and
integrity of the individual and has to be applied in line with the
Data Protection Regulation;
• Fourthly, to protect the interest of other citizens and safeguard the
principle of good administration. The Commission has to treat all
citizens equally by ensuring that the legal framework for public
access to documents is respected. For example, it has to verify
whether Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 is being evaded
by introducing several requests under different identities. Indeed, in
its Ryanair judgment ([4]EU:T:2010:511), the General Court confirmed
that Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 cannot be evaded by
splitting an application into several, seemingly separate, parts. In
addition, the Commission has to make sure that the legal framework is
respected and the right of access to documents is not abused by making
requests under an invented identity.
The considerations above show that the request for and the consequent
processing of the applicant's postal address is not only appropriate, but
also strictly necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the
public interest within the meaning of Article 5(1)(a) of Data Protection
Regulation, namely providing a smooth and effective access to documents.
Yours faithfully,
Secretariat-General - Access to Documents
European Commission
References
Visible links
1. https://www.ec.europa.eu/transparency/do...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
4. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Energy,
My postal address is:
CEO
Rue d'Edimbourg 26
Bruxelles 1050
Belgique
Yours faithfully,
Pascoe Sabido
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 or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents
sent on 02/09/2025 and registered on 03/09/2025 under the case number
2025/4426.
We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 24/09/2025. 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...
Dear Mr Sabido,
We are writing concerning your request for access to Commission documents
registered on 03/09/2025 under case number EASE 2025/4426.
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 24/09/2025.
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 15/10/2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to documents Team
Dear Energy,
Firstly, apologies for my delayed response, I've not been able to reply due to unforeseen circumstances.
However, I want to thank you for the list, it's much appreciated.
I will go through and choose 20 documents, and may eventually do some follow-up requests for further documents.
I realise I have exceeded the five working days time limit that you have set, but I hope you can excuse the delay. I will be able to reply fully on Monday.
Yours faithfully,
Pascoe Sabido
Dear Energy,
Thank you for providing a list of documents identified, as well as the proposal to narrow down a selection from those identified.
Below you will find a first attempt, grouping 16 Ares registration numbers. As many documents relate to the same registration number, I have treated them as one "document", rather than asking for 5 documents registered under the same Ares number.
However, choosing was not straightforward as it proved particularly difficult to ascertain the provenance of multiple documents identified, as neither the sender, nor recipient, nor date were included, leaving me with only the title, which often contained little information. Would it be possible to provide me with a more detailed list, including the information listed above, to allow me to identify the relevant documents much more quickly? Many thanks in advance.
Chosen documents:
- Ares(2025)7306366
- Ares(2025)2924699
- Ares(2025)6257945
- Ares(2025)1249748
- Ares(2025)2969298
- Ares(2025)1432242
- Ares(2025)7923689
- Ares(2025)6528373
- Ares(2025)925864
- Ares(2025)2210840
- Ares(2025)4212072
- Ares(2025)7607052
- Ares(2025)860713
- Ares(2025)6288738
- Ares(2025)7285436
- Ares(2025)7462592
Yours faithfully,
Pascoe Sabido
Dear Ms Sabido,
This is to inform you that we are finalising the reply to your request for
access to documents (case 2025/4426).
We can confirm that it will be sent as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Mr Sabido,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/4426.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
DG ENER Access to Documents Team
Dear Energy,
Thank you so much for the documents, much appreciated, and apologies for the delay in responding (the madness of COP30 took hold).
Yours faithfully,
Pascoe Sabido