Exchanges with Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Alexander Fanta made this access to documents request to European Central Bank Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.
Dear European Central Bank,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001 and Decision ECB/2004/3, I am requesting any exchanges between the ECB and Austrian authorities, such as the Austrian National Bank, the Austrian Financial Market Authority or the Austrian Ministry of Finance regarding Signa. This is meant to cover any exchange, such as e-mails, letters, etc. since September 1, 2022.
Additionally, I also would like to request any internal documents of the ECB, such as e-mails, research papers, etc, regarding Signa in the same time frame.
Yours faithfully,
Alexander Fanta
Follow the Money
Rue Auguste Orts 2
1000 Bruxelles
Dear Mr Fanta,
We are writing regarding your second request dated 5 July 2024 for public access to documents relating to Signa. More specifically, you requested "any exchanges between the ECB and Austrian authorities, such as the Austrian National Bank, the Austrian Financial Market Authority or the Austrian Ministry of Finance regarding Signa" as well as "any internal documents of the ECB, such as e-mails, research papers, etc, regarding Signa" and as you specified, covering any such documents "since September 1, 2022".
The request, due to its extremely broad formulation and wide timeframe covered, does not allow the ECB to precisely define and thus identify the documents which might be relevant to it. We would therefore ask you to specify a specific subject matter and shorten its timeframe.
For this reason, in accordance with Article 6(2) of the Decision, we would be grateful if you could clarify or reformulate your request accordingly. In addition, we would appreciate if you could provide a more detailed description of the point of your request concerning "any internal documents of the ECB regarding Signa" as to specify, the particular aspect you are interested in.
If you have any questions or need additional clarification as to how you might narrow down your request or how to be more sufficiently precise in your reformulation, please do not hesitate to contact us. Once we have received the required clarifications we stand ready to process you request in accordance with Decision ECB/2004/3.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[email address]
________________________________________
From: Alexander Fanta
Sent: Friday, 05 July 2024 09:24:41 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna
To: [email address]
Subject: [EXT] access to documents request - Exchanges with Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear European Central Bank,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001 and Decision ECB/2004/3, I am requesting any exchanges between the ECB and Austrian authorities, such as the Austrian National Bank, the Austrian Financial Market Authority or the Austrian Ministry of Finance regarding Signa. This is meant to cover any exchange, such as e-mails, letters, etc. since September 1, 2022.
Additionally, I also would like to request any internal documents of the ECB, such as e-mails, research papers, etc, regarding Signa in the same time frame.
Yours faithfully,
Alexander Fanta
Follow the Money
Rue Auguste Orts 2
1000 Bruxelles
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the AsktheEU.org website.
Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request: [FOI #14733 email]
If [ECB request email] is the wrong address for information requests to European Central Bank, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on email [email address]
This message and all replies from European Central Bank will be published on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page for EU public officials at https://www.asktheeu.org/en/help/officers
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will be delayed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement. This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above. Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection Officer ([email address]). You may also contact the European Data Protection Supervisor.
Dear Compliance and Governance Office ,
thank you for your request for clarification. I understand that this request is very broad and will attempt to narrow it. First, I would like to state that I make this request in my role as a journalist as part of a public interest investigation into the collapse of the Signa conglomerate. The ECB played a role in the sequence of events. In August 2023, the ECB reportedly told banks lending to Signa to write down the value of their loans or make further provisions for potential losses. I seek any document connected to this regulatory action. This is meant to include any document regarding the ECB probe into Signa, including internal documents authorizing an investigation, as well as any communication with banks on this matter. I agree to limit the time frame to anything within the year 2023. Does that suffice to process my request?
Yours sincerely,
Alexander Fanta
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for your clarification of 12 August 2024 on your request for access to European Central Bank (ECB) documents.
In accordance with Article 7(1) of Decision ECB/2004/3 of the European Central Bank, you will receive a reply within 20 working days.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[email address]
Dear Mr Fanta,
Further to our acknowledgement of receipt of 12 August 2024 on your application for access to documents and following further exchanges with affected business areas, we would like to point out that, notwithstanding the clarifications you kindly provided, your request continues to cover a particularly extensive scope and time frame leading to the identification of a very high number of documents which might be potentially relevant.
More specifically, in view of the excessive administrative burden that processing your application as such would impose on the ECB, in order to safeguard the interests of good administration and to strike a balance between the ECB’s transparency commitment and the efficiency of the institution, we are getting back to you in line with Article 6(3) Decision ECB/2004/3 allowing the ECB to confer with the applicant informally with a view to find a fair solution that would meet your specific interest in obtaining relevant documents, whilst enabling the ECB to efficiently process your request.
Against this background, we understand that you are interested in a “regulatory action” that, reportedly, took place in 2023 and could relate to credit institutions’ exposed to Signa. In light of the foregoing, we deem that at this stage, the identification of the documents to be assessed should comprise relevant supervisory reports, follow-up letters to affected credit institutions and replies from said credit institutions.
We look forward to receiving your confirmation that our understanding is correct and that the proposed solution is agreeable to you and addresses your interest for public access, in order to proceed with the processing.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[email address]
Dear Compliance Office,
I take note of your email of September 4 remarking on the excessive administrative burden that processing your application as such would impose on the ECB. I agree to limit my request specifically to any internal communication of the ECB, including the relevant supervisory reports you mentioned, regarding the warning by the ECB to banks to 'write down the value of their loans or make further provisions for potential losses' in regard to Signa. Such a warning was reported by Bloomberg on August 29, 2023. (See here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...)
Does this suffice to process my request?
Yours sincerely,
Alexander Fanta
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for the clarifications you kindly provided.
We would like to inform you that in view of the broad scope of documents
requested, the ECB will need to break down your request into smaller
batches and deal with them successively, as provided for in Article 6.1 of
the Decision ECB/2004/3.
We trust that this is satisfactory, and we will keep you informed on our
progress with your dossier.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[1][email address]
Dear Mr Fanta,
We refer to your request for access to European Central Bank (ECB)
documents for which we received clarification on 9^th of September 2024.
We regret to inform you that, due to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude its internal assessment process as well as a detailed analysis of
all legal aspects related to the possible disclosure of the requested
documents.
In accordance with Article 7(3) of [1]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has
decided to extend the time limit for responding to your application by 20
working days.
We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[2][email address]
From: Access to documents <[3][email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 2:10 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[4][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[5][email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXT] RE: Access to documents request - Exchanges with
Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for the clarifications you kindly provided.
We would like to inform you that in view of the broad scope of documents
requested, the ECB will need to break down your request into smaller
batches and deal with them successively, as provided for in Article 6.1 of
the Decision ECB/2004/3.
We trust that this is satisfactory, and we will keep you informed on our
progress with your dossier.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[6][email address]
Dear Mr Fanta,
Please find attached the ECB’s reply to your request for access to ECB
documents (first part). Please be informed that we will start processing
the second part of your request, namely relating to the internal
communication of the ECB.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[1][email address]
From: Access to documents <[email address]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 1:15 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[email address]>
Subject: Extension of deadline: Access to documents request - Exchanges
with Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
We refer to your request for access to European Central Bank (ECB)
documents for which we received clarification on 9^th of September 2024.
We regret to inform you that, due to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude its internal assessment process as well as a detailed analysis of
all legal aspects related to the possible disclosure of the requested
documents.
In accordance with Article 7(3) of [2]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has
decided to extend the time limit for responding to your application by 20
working days.
We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[3][email address]
From: Access to documents <[4][email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 2:10 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[5][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[6][email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXT] RE: Access to documents request - Exchanges with
Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for the clarifications you kindly provided.
We would like to inform you that in view of the broad scope of documents
requested, the ECB will need to break down your request into smaller
batches and deal with them successively, as provided for in Article 6.1 of
the Decision ECB/2004/3.
We trust that this is satisfactory, and we will keep you informed on our
progress with your dossier.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[7][email address]
ECB-RESTRICTED
Dear Mr Fanta,
We refer to the second part of your request, namely relating to the
internal communication of the ECB.
We regret to inform you that, owing to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude the internal assessment process.
In accordance with article 7.3 of Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has decided
to extend the time-limit for responding to your application by 20 working
days.
We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[1][email address]
From: Access to documents <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 12:36 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[email address]>
Subject: ECB reply: Access to documents request - Exchanges with Austrian
authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
Please find attached the ECB’s reply to your request for access to ECB
documents (first part). Please be informed that we will start processing
the second part of your request, namely relating to the internal
communication of the ECB.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[2][email address]
From: Access to documents <[3][email address]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 1:15 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[4][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[5][email address]>
Subject: Extension of deadline: Access to documents request - Exchanges
with Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
We refer to your request for access to European Central Bank (ECB)
documents for which we received clarification on 9^th of September 2024.
We regret to inform you that, due to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude its internal assessment process as well as a detailed analysis of
all legal aspects related to the possible disclosure of the requested
documents.
In accordance with Article 7(3) of [6]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has
decided to extend the time limit for responding to your application by 20
working days.
We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[7][email address]
From: Access to documents <[8][email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 2:10 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[9][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[10][email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXT] RE: Access to documents request - Exchanges with
Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for the clarifications you kindly provided.
We would like to inform you that in view of the broad scope of documents
requested, the ECB will need to break down your request into smaller
batches and deal with them successively, as provided for in Article 6.1 of
the Decision ECB/2004/3.
We trust that this is satisfactory, and we will keep you informed on our
progress with your dossier.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[11][email address]
ECB-RESTRICTED
Dear Mr Fanta,
Please find attached the ECB’s reply to the second part of your request
for access to ECB documents, namely relating to the internal communication
of the ECB.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[1][email address]
From: Access to documents <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 4, 2024 9:44 AM
To: Alexander Fanta <[FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[email address]>
Subject: Extension of deadline (2nd part): Access to documents request -
Exchanges with Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
ECB-RESTRICTED
Dear Mr Fanta,
We refer to the second part of your request, namely relating to the
internal communication of the ECB.
We regret to inform you that, owing to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude the internal assessment process.
In accordance with article 7.3 of Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has decided
to extend the time-limit for responding to your application by 20 working
days.
We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[2][email address]
From: Access to documents <[3][email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 12:36 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[4][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[5][email address]>
Subject: ECB reply: Access to documents request - Exchanges with Austrian
authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
Please find attached the ECB’s reply to your request for access to ECB
documents (first part). Please be informed that we will start processing
the second part of your request, namely relating to the internal
communication of the ECB.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[6][email address]
From: Access to documents <[7][email address]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 1:15 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[8][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[9][email address]>
Subject: Extension of deadline: Access to documents request - Exchanges
with Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
We refer to your request for access to European Central Bank (ECB)
documents for which we received clarification on 9^th of September 2024.
We regret to inform you that, due to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests, the ECB has not yet been able to
conclude its internal assessment process as well as a detailed analysis of
all legal aspects related to the possible disclosure of the requested
documents.
In accordance with Article 7(3) of [10]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has
decided to extend the time limit for responding to your application by 20
working days.
We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[11][email address]
From: Access to documents <[12][email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 2:10 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[13][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[14][email address]>
Subject: RE: [EXT] RE: Access to documents request - Exchanges with
Austrian authorities and internal documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for the clarifications you kindly provided.
We would like to inform you that in view of the broad scope of documents
requested, the ECB will need to break down your request into smaller
batches and deal with them successively, as provided for in Article 6.1 of
the Decision ECB/2004/3.
We trust that this is satisfactory, and we will keep you informed on our
progress with your dossier.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[15][email address]
Dear European Central Bank,
In your letter dating to January 9, 2025, you denied access to the second batch of my request (LS/PS/2024/94) about internal communication by the ECB regarding the Signa real estate conglomerate. I wish to appeal this decision.
I take note of the ECB’s clarification that “identified documents should not be construed as related to supervisory activities focused on banks’ exposure to a single identified borrower, but rather framed in the context of the supervisory activities carried out across the board to assess banks’ exposures to a particularly vulnerable sector.”
I also take note of the “generic overview of the information contained in the identified documents” provided by the letter.
Given the very general nature of the description of the documents that the ECB provided, and the great number of exceptions cited by the ECB, I will attempt to explain the rationale of my request and what information I am seeking to obtain before providing specific arguments related to the exceptions invoked.
I make my request for access to documents as a journalist trying to shed light on the role of the European Central Bank in the demise of the Signa conglomerate. In this regard, it should be noted that press reports about communication between the ECB and supervised banks about their exposure to Signa were instrumental in shaping public perception of Signa’s decline. See, for instance, a Bloomberg story on August 29, 2023, “ECB Pushes Banks to Take Hit on Loans to Austrian Tycoon Benko’s Business Empire”. Some in the industry have pushed back against the ECB, and called its probing of the real estate sector a “modern witch hunt” (see: https://www.handelsblatt.com/finanzen/ba...). Press reports have further suggested that several of Signa’s intermediaries and interest representatives, including former Austrian chancellors Alfred Gusenbauer and Sebastian Kurz, have made representations to members of the ECB’s Supervisory Board to influence decision-making.
In the light of public speculation and reported attempts at influencing the ECB, I find it a matter of public interest to probe what decisions the ECB took in regard to Signa, which input from stakeholders it received, and how that input could have influenced its decisions. Notwithstanding the legitimate interest of the ECB in protecting the confidentiality of its proceedings, the integrity of its procedures and decision-making, and the interest of supervised institutions, I ask the bank to consider whether a partial or redacted release of certain documents to help the public understand ECB decision-making can be considered. Certainly the ECB can keep its methodologies a secret, but still reveal cornerstones of the events that informed its decision-making process?
For instance, it would be of great public interest to know from what date the ECB considered Signa to be a risk to financial institutions it borrowed money from, and on the basis of what information the ECB made that assessment. I further would be of great interest to understand whether certain financial institutions pushed back against the ECB’s assessment, whether there was internal dissent within the bank, or what, exactly, it communicated to supervised financial institutions at what time.
As regards the general rule prohibiting disclosure of confidential supervisory information, I ask to review whether all documents falling under my request are really covered by this exception, and whether a derogation for specific documents can be made.
As regards documents concerning supervisory inspections, and the protection of the public interest as regards their purpose, I ask whether certain documents can be released in a limited way redacting identifying information about the supervised entities in question.
As regards those documents drafted or received by the ECB for internal use as part of deliberations and preliminary consultations within the ECB, or for exchanges of views between the ECB and NCBs, the ECB argues that any breach of confidentiality would cause authors of information to potentially practise self-censorship, and limit the bank’s “space to think”. I contend that this argument appears of a very general and hypothetical nature, and does in my view not sufficiently merit the application of the exception.
More specifically, as regards any exchanges between the ECB and the Austrian National Bank, I believe that the protected interest should be weighed against an overriding public interest in disclosure. Any interventions by Austrian authorities including the Austrian National Bank should be scrutinized for possible political motives, as Signa was well-known to be connected to political decision-makers. Therefore any failure by the ECB to release arguments brought forward by the Austrian National Bank or other Austrian authorities risks creating the impression that the ECB seeks to protect politically motivated interference, rather than upholding the integrity of its supervisory regime.
Also, I note that the ECB has invoked the undermining of commercial interests of the Signa Holding GmbH or companies belonging to the Signa group as reasons for refusal. I contend that as Signa Holding and most of its subsidiaries are insolvent and are being wound down, their commercial interests may no longer be undermined in the sense of the exception invoked.
I hope the ECB can consider my arguments for additional public disclosure.
Kind regards,
Alexander Fanta
Dear Mr Fanta,
The European Central Bank (ECB) confirms receipt of your email dated 20
January 2025 for “internal review of access to documents request”.
Your request has been registered and will be addressed in accordance with
the applicable legal framework.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[1][email address]
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for your request dated 31 January 2025.
We will assess it and get back to you in due course.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[1][email address]
Privacy notice: By submitting a request for access to documents, the ECB
collects information about you for the sole purpose of processing your
request in accordance with [2]Decision ECB/2004/3. All personal data are
processed in accordance with EU Data Protection Law ([3]Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council). The ECB is the
controller for the processing of the personal data. The recipients of the
data will be the ECB’s Compliance and Governance Office and, only when
necessary, other institutions within the European System of Central Banks,
the Single Supervisory Mechanism, or EU institutions.
You have the right to restrict processing and to access, rectify and under
certain conditions to request deletion of your stored personal data. You
can exercise your rights by contacting the ECB's Compliance and Governance
Office ([4][email address]) or the ECB’s Data Protection
Officer ([5][email address]).Furthermore, you have the right to address
the European Data Protection Supervisor ([6]www.edps.europa.eu) any time
regarding this processing of your personal data.
________________________________________
From: Alexander Fanta
Sent: Friday, 31 January 2025 07:44:19 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin,
Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna
To: [7][email address]
Subject: [EXT] access to documents request - Lagarde-Michl conversation
Dear European Central Bank,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in
Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents related to a recent
conversation between President Christine Lagarde and her Czech colleague
Ales Michl regarding Bitcoin. For the President's public reference to the
conversation, see here:
[8]https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/e...
I wish to request any document connected to said conversation, including
meeting minutes, e-mails, etc.
Kind regards,
Alexander Fanta
Follow the Money
Rue Auguste Orts 2
1000 Bruxelles
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.
Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[9][email address]
If [10][ECB request email] is the wrong address for information
requests to European Central Bank, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on
email [11][email address]
This message and all replies from European Central Bank will be published
on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page
for EU public officials at [12]https://www.asktheeu.org/en/help/officers
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
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faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a
commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement.
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above.
Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in
part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your
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2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection
Officer ([email address]). You may also contact the European Data
Protection Supervisor.
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Access to documents would like to recall the message, "Acknowledgment of receipt: access to documents request - Lagarde-Michl conversation".
Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement. This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above. Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection Officer ([email address]). You may also contact the European Data Protection Supervisor.
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for your request dated 31 January 2025 for access to European
Central Bank (ECB) documents, which we received on the same day.
In accordance with Article 7(1) of [1]Decision ECB/2004/3 of the European
Central Bank, you will receive a reply within 20 working days.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[2][email address]
Privacy notice: By submitting a request for access to documents, the ECB
collects information about you for the sole purpose of processing your
request in accordance with [3]Decision ECB/2004/3. All personal data are
processed in accordance with EU Data Protection Law ([4]Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council). The ECB is the
controller for the processing of the personal data. The recipients of the
data will be the ECB’s Compliance and Governance Office and, only when
necessary, other institutions within the European System of Central Banks,
the Single Supervisory Mechanism, or EU institutions.
You have the right to restrict processing and to access, rectify and under
certain conditions to request deletion of your stored personal data. You
can exercise your rights by contacting the ECB's Compliance and Governance
Office ([5][email address]) or the ECB’s Data Protection
Officer ([6][email address]).Furthermore, you have the right to address
the European Data Protection Supervisor ([7]www.edps.europa.eu) any time
regarding this processing of your personal data.
________________________________________
From: Alexander Fanta
Sent: Friday, 31 January 2025 07:44:19 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin,
Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna
To: [8][email address]
Subject: [EXT] access to documents request - Lagarde-Michl conversation
Dear European Central Bank,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in
Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents related to a recent
conversation between President Christine Lagarde and her Czech colleague
Ales Michl regarding Bitcoin. For the President's public reference to the
conversation, see here:
[9]https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/e...
I wish to request any document connected to said conversation, including
meeting minutes, e-mails, etc.
Kind regards,
Alexander Fanta
Follow the Money
Rue Auguste Orts 2
1000 Bruxelles
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.
Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[10][email address]
If [11][ECB request email] is the wrong address for information
requests to European Central Bank, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on
email [12][email address]
This message and all replies from European Central Bank will be published
on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page
for EU public officials at [13]https://www.asktheeu.org/en/help/officers
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good
faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a
commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement.
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above.
Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in
part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your
system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection
Officer ([email address]). You may also contact the European Data
Protection Supervisor.
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
4. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
5. mailto:[email address]
6. mailto:[email address]).furthermore
7. http://www.edps.europa.eu/
8. mailto:[email address]
9. https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/e...
10. mailto:[email address]
11. mailto:[ECB request email]
12. mailto:[AsktheEU.org contact email]
13. https://www.asktheeu.org/en/help/officers
Dear Mr Fanta,
We refer to your confirmatory application of 20 January 2025, for access
to European Central Bank (ECB) documents.
We regret to inform you that, owing to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests for access to documents, and in
accordance with article 8.2 of [1]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has decided
to extend the time-limit for responding to your application by 20 working
days.
We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[2][email address]
From: Access to documents <[email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 3:07 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[email address]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of receipt: Internal review of access to
documents request - Exchanges with Austrian authorities and internal
documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
The European Central Bank (ECB) confirms receipt of your email dated 20
January 2025 for “internal review of access to documents request”.
Your request has been registered and will be addressed in accordance with
the applicable legal framework.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[3][email address]
ECB-UNRESTRICTED
Dear Mr Fanta,
please find attached the ECB’s reply to your request for access to ECB
documents.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[1][email address]
From: Access to documents <[2][email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 10:43 AM
To: Alexander Fanta <[3][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[4][email address]>
Subject: Acknowledgment of receipt: access to documents request -
Lagarde-Michl conversation
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for your request dated 31 January 2025 for access to European
Central Bank (ECB) documents, which we received on the same day.
In accordance with Article 7(1) of [5]Decision ECB/2004/3 of the European
Central Bank, you will receive a reply within 20 working days.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[6][email address]
Privacy notice: By submitting a request for access to documents, the ECB
collects information about you for the sole purpose of processing your
request in accordance with [7]Decision ECB/2004/3. All personal data are
processed in accordance with EU Data Protection Law ([8]Regulation (EU)
2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council). The ECB is the
controller for the processing of the personal data. The recipients of the
data will be the ECB’s Compliance and Governance Office and, only when
necessary, other institutions within the European System of Central Banks,
the Single Supervisory Mechanism, or EU institutions.
You have the right to restrict processing and to access, rectify and under
certain conditions to request deletion of your stored personal data. You
can exercise your rights by contacting the ECB's Compliance and Governance
Office ([9][email address]) or the ECB’s Data Protection
Officer ([10][email address]).Furthermore, you have the right to address
the European Data Protection Supervisor ([11]www.edps.europa.eu) any time
regarding this processing of your personal data.
________________________________________
From: Alexander Fanta
Sent: Friday, 31 January 2025 07:44:19 (UTC+01:00) Amsterdam, Berlin,
Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna
To: [12][email address]
Subject: [EXT] access to documents request - Lagarde-Michl conversation
Dear European Central Bank,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in
Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents related to a recent
conversation between President Christine Lagarde and her Czech colleague
Ales Michl regarding Bitcoin. For the President's public reference to the
conversation, see here:
[13]https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/e...
I wish to request any document connected to said conversation, including
meeting minutes, e-mails, etc.
Kind regards,
Alexander Fanta
Follow the Money
Rue Auguste Orts 2
1000 Bruxelles
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a request for access to information under Article 15 of the TFEU
and, where applicable, Regulation 1049/2001 which has been sent via the
AsktheEU.org website.
Please kindly use this email address for all replies to this request:
[14][email address]
If [15][ECB request email] is the wrong address for information
requests to European Central Bank, please tell the AsktheEU.org team on
email [16][email address]
This message and all replies from European Central Bank will be published
on the AsktheEU.org website. For more information see our dedicated page
for EU public officials at [17]https://www.asktheeu.org/en/help/officers
Please note that in some cases publication of requests and responses will
be delayed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Any e-mail message from the European Central Bank (ECB) is sent in good
faith, but shall neither be binding nor construed as constituting a
commitment by the ECB except where provided for in a written agreement.
This e-mail is intended only for the use of the recipient(s) named above.
Any unauthorised disclosure, use or dissemination, either in whole or in
part, is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please
notify the sender immediately via e-mail and delete this e-mail from your
system. The ECB processes personal data in line with Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. In case of queries, please contact the ECB Data Protection
Officer ([email address]). You may also contact the European Data
Protection Supervisor.
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[FOI #14733 email]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
6. mailto:[email address]
7. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
8. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
9. mailto:[email address]
10. mailto:[email address]).furthermore
11. http://www.edps.europa.eu/
12. mailto:[email address]
13. https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/e...
14. mailto:[email address]
15. mailto:[ECB request email]
16. mailto:[AsktheEU.org contact email]
17. https://www.asktheeu.org/en/help/officers
ECB-RESTRICTED
Dear Mr Fanta,
Please find attached the ECB’s reply to your confirmatory application of
20 January 2025 for access to ECB documents.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[1][email address]
From: Access to documents <[email address]>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 10:12 AM
To: Alexander Fanta <[FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[email address]>
Subject: Extension of deadline: Internal review of access to documents
request - Exchanges with Austrian authorities and internal documents
regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
We refer to your confirmatory application of 20 January 2025, for access
to European Central Bank (ECB) documents.
We regret to inform you that, owing to the increased workload created by a
high number of simultaneous requests for access to documents, and in
accordance with article 8.2 of [2]Decision ECB/2004/3, the ECB has decided
to extend the time-limit for responding to your application by 20 working
days.
We apologise for the inconvenience this delay may cause.
Yours sincerely,
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[3][email address]
From: Access to documents <[4][email address]>
Sent: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 3:07 PM
To: Alexander Fanta <[5][FOI #14733 email]>
Cc: Access to documents <[6][email address]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of receipt: Internal review of access to
documents request - Exchanges with Austrian authorities and internal
documents regarding Signa
Dear Mr Fanta,
The European Central Bank (ECB) confirms receipt of your email dated 20
January 2025 for “internal review of access to documents request”.
Your request has been registered and will be addressed in accordance with
the applicable legal framework.
Yours sincerely
Compliance and Governance Office
DG Secretariat
European Central Bank
Sonnemannstrasse 20
60314 Frankfurt am Main
[7][email address]