European Parliament presentation 05-02-2025 of KU Leuven Film
Nik Völker, MiningWatch Portugal made this access to documents request to European Parliament
Dear European Parliament
Based on the freedom of information in the EU Treaties, enshrined in Regulation 1049/2001, I request documents containing the following information:
1. Invitations and accreditations issued for the European Parliament session on 05-02-2025 on the presentation of the KU Leuven film "Not in My Country", hosted by MEP Hildegard Bentele;[1]
2. Documents held by the Parliament in terms of the documents received by third parties in relation with the session above, e.g. invitations and attendee or accreditations request lists, supplied by the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals "SIM2" or other third parties, including any cover letters and (electronic) communication,
3. Any documents held by the Parliament on the monetary compensation of the moderator David Rose of LACS Training.
Please note that the event has stirred a public debate on the funding and ethical questions relating to the event hosted at the European Parliament on February 5th 2025, and also the works showcased therein, with manifold news issued by Belgian and international news channels, as well as statements by the event organizers of KU Leuven.[1][2][3][4][5][6] We would thus ask the Parliament to give broadest access possible in the public interest, to support transparency and the public debate, including journalistic work, on the topic.
In case of personal information affected, we would like to ask the European Parliament to redact possible parts whose disclosure could violate the right of individuals, e.g. in disclosing only the organizational affiliation of invited guests and accredited individuals.
With kind regards,
MiningWatch Portugal,
Association Observatório dos Recursos Naturais
[1] https://www.euronews.com/green/2025/02/0...
[2] https://balkangreenenergynews.com/protes...
[3] https://portalnovosti.com/pr-litija-o-li...
[4] https://www.demorgen.be/nieuws/servisch-...
[5] https://kuleuven.sim2.be/statement-about...
[6] https://kuleuven.sim2.be/statement-about...
Our reference: 2025-0067
Dear Mr Völker,
The European Parliament hereby acknowledges receipt of your message, which
was registered on February 12, 2025.
All applications for public access to documents are treated in compliance
with Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 regarding public access
to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
In accordance with the above-mentioned Regulation, your application will
be handled within 15 working days upon registration of your request.
Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with
regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions,
bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data. A
detailed privacy statement is available [1]here.
The European Parliament reserves the right to ask for additional
information regarding your identity in order to verify compliance with
Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 and the European Parliament’s implementing
measures.
Your attention is drawn to the fact that you have lodged your application
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any personal data and would like to avoid public disclosure, you may do so
from your private email address by using the following functional mailbox
address: AccesDocs(at)europarl.europa.eu
Best regards,
TRANSPARENCY UNIT
European Parliament
Directorate-General for the Presidency
Directorate-General for Interinstitutional Affairs and Legislative
Coordination
[2][European Parliament request email]
[3]www.europarl.europa.eu/RegistreWeb
References
Visible links
1. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegistreW...
2. mailto:[European Parliament request email]
3. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegistreWeb
Our reference: 2025-0067
Dear Mr Völker,
This concerns your request for public access to documents relating to an
event hosted by Hildegard Bentele, Member of the European Parliament on 5
February 2025, including the presentation of the KU Leuven film "Not in My
Country".
Please note that Parliament does not hold any documents related to
meetings and events hosted by Members and involving third parties, if the
meeting or event was not part of a parliamentary activity (e.g. in the
context of a committee meeting) and was therefore held without the
involvement of Parliament’s administration. Indeed, Parliament’s
administration has no access to Members’ private offices (see also [1]Rule
125(2) of Parliament’s Rule of Procedure).
Meetings with interest representatives and events organised by Members are
published on Members’ websites. From there by clicking on a particular
member, you can access their website and find a relevant list on the right
side of the page under Home -> Meetings, for example [2]here in the case
of Ms Bentele. Such meeting declarations are regulated by [3]Article 7 of
Annex I of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament.
Moreover, pieces of correspondence, invitations, minutes, attendance lists
and any other background documents from such meetings and events are
usually held by the Member and, should you wish to have access to them,
you may get in touch with the Member’s office (the relevant contact
information is provided in Parliament’s website).
As regards the monetary compensation for such meetings and events, they
are normally covered by the budget line 400 (see also Rule 1.1.1 of the
[4]Bureau decision of 30 June 2003 - Rules on the use of appropriations
from budget item 400). Please note that Parliament’s administration does
not hold any documents in relation to the use of funds under budget item
400 by the political groups. Indeed, the political groups are themselves
responsible for the allocation and use of such funds, in application of
the principle of indirect management of funds (Article 62(1)(c) of
[5]Regulation 2024/2509), while the administration only conducts general
consistency checks on the annual financial and audit reports.
On this basis, Parliament considers your application handled and the
procedure closed. Should you wish to submit any new requests for specific
Parliament documents, [6]please do not hesitate to come back to us.
Best regards,
TRANSPARENCY UNIT
European Parliament
Directorate-General for the Presidency
Directorate-General for Interinstitutional Affairs and Legislative
Coordination
[7][European Parliament request email]
[8]www.europarl.europa.eu/RegistreWeb
References
Visible links
1. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc...
2. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/1...
3. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/doc...
4. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/p...
5. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
6. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegistreW...
7. mailto:[European Parliament request email]
8. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegistreWeb