European Defence Fund and conflicts of interest
Dear Secretariat General of the European Commission,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents related to all communications with the Ombudsman about the European Defence Fund's conflict of interest inquiry (see here:
https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/news-...).
If the communications with the Ombudsman are still covered by some secrecy because the investigation is still ongoing, I'd please request all internal memos, briefings, minutes, emails, notes and any other related documents used to prepare all communications with the Ombudsman — especially the reply to the questions asked by the Ombudsman and expected by January 31. (see here: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/news-...)
I would also please request all communications and relevant preparatory documents that were exchanged with the Ombudsman prior to the inquiry on the topics of the European Defence Fund and conflicts of interest.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Laura Kayali
Dear Sir or Madam,
We are writing to you concerning your request for access to documents sent
on 26/02/2024 and registered on 26/02/2024 under case number 2024/1070.
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
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These conditions are not the same for recipients established in the
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the documents requested contain personal data, the Commission cannot
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• 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
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• Fourthly, to protect the interest of other citizens and safeguard the
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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 Secretariat General of the European Commission,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents related to all communications with the Ombudsman about the European Defence Fund's conflict of interest inquiry (see here:
https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/news-...).
If the communications with the Ombudsman are still covered by some secrecy because the investigation is still ongoing, I'd please request all internal memos, briefings, minutes, emails, notes and any other related documents used to prepare all communications with the Ombudsman — especially the reply to the questions asked by the Ombudsman and expected by January 31. (see here: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/news-...)
I would also please request all communications and relevant preparatory documents that were exchanged with the Ombudsman prior to the inquiry on the topics of the European Defence Fund and conflicts of interest.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Laura Kayali
POLITICO
Rue de la Loi, 62
1040 Bruxelles, Belgium
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 28/02/2024 and registered on 29/02/2024 under the case number
2024/1145.
We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 21/03/2024. 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...
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/...
Hello,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2024/1145.
Kind regards,
Dear Secretariat General of the European Commission,
LINKS
Here are different links to the Ombudsman inquiry, and if they don't work, you'll find the press release's content below. https://europa.eu/!QK4VVr
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/european-...
https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence...
DOCUMENTS REQUESTED
I am please requesting all relevant Commission documents (notes, briefs, memos, minutes, emails, etc) related to the Ombudsman's European Defence Fund's conflict of interest inquiry.
And more specifically:
1. In its press release, the Ombudsman mentions "previous correspondence with the Commission on this matter, which indicated that it largely relies on experts’ self-declarations to prevent potential conflicts of interest."
I would please request the correspondence mentioned, and if they're covered by some sort of confidentiality, I would please request all relevant documents (notes, briefs, memos, minutes, emails) used to prepare the official correspondence.
2. In its press release, the Ombudsman says it has "sent a series of questions to the Commission". I would please request the Commission's answers to those questions.
If they're covered by some sort of confidentiality because the inquiry is ongoing, I would please request all relevant documents (notes, briefs, memos, minutes, emails) used to prepare the official answers.
Let me know if the request is clearer. Thanks.
Yours faithfully,
Laura Kayali
The full text of the Ombudsman's press release:
The European Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into how the European Commission ensures external experts who help it evaluate European Defence Fund (EDF) project proposals do not have conflicts of interest.
Contrary to the general practice for the evaluation of proposals meant to receive EU funding, the Commission is not required to make public the names of the experts it consults for EDF-backed projects.
The Ombudsman’s inquiry follows previous correspondence with the Commission on this matter, which indicated that it largely relies on experts’ self-declarations to prevent potential conflicts of interest.
As a first step, the Ombudsman has sent a series of questions to the Commission. These cover issues such as how Commission staff evaluate and verify experts’ self-declarations, how often conflicts of interest have been identified, if the Commission has guidance for when experts may be retained despite potential conflicts of interest, and how the Commission deals with alerts concerning conflicts of interest from outside sources.
The Ombudsman has asked the Commission to reply by 31 January 2024.
Background
Through the evaluation of research and development projects for defence technology and equipment, independent experts help the Commission decide which projects should receive financial backing from the EDF.
The EDF first came into being in January 2021 and has a budget of around EUR8 billion for the period 2021 to 2027.
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/...
Hello,
We are writing concerning your request for access to Commission documents
registered on 26/02/2024 under case number 2024/1070.
On 26/02/2024 we asked you to send us your postal address and explained
the reasons why we need it.
Since we have not received your postal address, we have closed this case.
Kind regards,
Access to documents team - SG.C.1
Dear Ms Kayali,
We are writing concerning your request for access to Commission documents
registered on 29.02.2024 under case number 2024/1145.
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 27.03.2024.
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 22.04.2024.
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 2024/1145.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
Dear Secretariat General of the European Commission,
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 'European Defence Fund and conflicts of interest'.
I am sure you can understand that it is not acceptable that the only two documents you have agreed to share are documents that have been publicly accessible for months. That is not the spirit of freedom of information.
I understand that the first two documents cannot be disclosed because the procedure is ongoing, but I would please like to have access to this one "OMBUDSMAN-2022_6_SI-draft reply formal procedure – final (Document 3)" which is nearly 18 months old already and is not linked per se to the probe.
I had also asked for the internal preparatory documents used to draft the two letters to the Ombudsperson (memos, minutes of meetings, emails and any other relevant documentation), which you have not even listed. I would please kindly ask if you could provide them. Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
Laura Kayali
Dear Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2024/1145, sent on 29/04/2024 and registered on 30/04/2024.
We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 24/05/2024. 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 KAYALI, Laura,
Please find attached the electronic version of European Commission
Decision C(2024)6313 as adopted by the European Commission on 30/08/2024
concerning the request 2024/1145.
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.C.1