Expenses MURAB project
Dear Madam, Sir,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the following information:
- All documents related to expenses claimed by the Universiteit Twente as part of the MURAB project (Horizon 2020, Grant agreement ID: 688188), including but not limited to copies of receipts and invoices submitted for approval
Only digital copies are required, please consider the environment by not sending me any physical mail.
I am of course available to clarify my request further if needed.
Sincerely
Peter Teffer
Follow the Money
Overtoom 197
1054HT Amsterdam
The Netherlands
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 15/07/2025 and registered on 15/07/2025 under the case number
2025/3573.
We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 05/08/2025. 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 Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents
sent on 21/07/2025 and registered on 22/07/2025 under the case number
2025/3706.
We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 12/08/2025. 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,
Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security - Access to Documents
European Commission
References
Visible links
1. https://ec.europa.eu/info/principles-and...
Dear Mr Teffer,
We refer to your request for access to documents, registered under the
abovementioned reference number.
Your application is currently being handled. However, we are not in a
position to complete the handling of your application within the time
limit of 15 working days, which expired on 5 August 2025.
An extended time limit is needed as different services need to be
consulted.
Therefore, we have to extend the time limit with 15 working days in
accordance with Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding
public access to documents. The new time limit expires on 27 August 2025.
We apologise for this delay and for any inconvenience this may cause.
Yours faithfully,
DG CONNECT Access to Documents Team
European Commission
DG CONNECT – ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS
Rue de la Loi, 51
B-1049 Brussels/Belgium
Hello,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/3706.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
Dear Madam, Sir,
I write in relation to my access to documents request sent on 15/07/2025 and registered the same day as case number 2025/3573.
The request covered:
- All documents related to expenses claimed by the Universiteit Twente as part of the MURAB project (Horizon 2020, Grant agreement ID: 688188), including but not limited to copies of receipts and invoices submitted for approval
The time-limit to reply expired on 05/08/2025. I have not been notified that the time-limit needed to be extended. Such an extension is allowed only when "the applicant is notified in advance and [..] detailed reasons are given".
Therefore, the Commission has failed to reply within the prescribed time-limit, and I am entitled to make a confirmatory application.
I hereby submit such a confirmatory application.
Sincerely,
Peter Teffer
Dear Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2025/3573, sent on 15/08/2025 and registered on 16/08/2025.
We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 08/09/2025. 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 Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2025/3706, sent on 15/08/2025 and registered on 18/08/2025.
We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 08/09/2025. 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 Mr Teffer,
We are writing concerning your confirmatory request for access to
Commission documents for case 2025/3706 registered on 18/08/2025.
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 08/09/2025.
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 29/09/2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
SG.A.2 - Document Management and Access to Documents
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear applicant,
We are writing concerning your confirmatory request for access to
Commission documents for case 2025/3573 registered on 16 August 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. We will not be able to send you the reply within
the prescribed time limit expiring on 8 September 2025 due to ongoing
internal consultations.
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 29 September 2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
Secretariat-General - Access to documents
European Commission
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 2025/3573.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
European Commission
DG CONNECT — ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS
Rue de la Loi, 51
B-1049 Brussels/Belgium
Dear applicant,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2025/3573.
Kind regards,
Secretariat-General - Access to documents
European Commission
Dear Madam, Sir,
Please pass this on to the person who reviews confirmatory applications.
I am filing a confirmatory application with regards to my access to documents request registered under case number 2025/3573.
The Commission has decided to fully deny access to all 10 documents it has identified falling within the scope of my application.
The sole reason the Commission has given for denying access, is that disclosure supposedly would undermine the protection of commercial interests. It claims that there is no overriding public interest in the disclosure of documents.
First, I would like to argue that the Universiteit Twente has no commercial interests. It is a university, a public law legal entity that has no profit motive. I also find it hard to believe that even if one accepts there is information that relates to the university's commercial interests, that the documents in their entirety are protected by that exception. Surely part of the documents can be released partially.
Secondly, even if one does hold the argument that the university has commercial interests that should be protected, there is an overriding public interest.
The European Union has rules which state that the EU budget must be implemented in accordance with the principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness - the principle of sound financial management.
My request involves the expenses the Universiteit Twente has claimed in the context of an EU-funded programme. I have filed it because I am an investigative journalist and I have received information from sources that suggest that the funds were possibly not in line with the principle of sound financial management.
In a democracy, journalists should be able to access information about how taxpayer money has been spent. There is no other way to do my job as a journalist but to have access to these documents.
This public interest is greater than the supposed commercial interest of the university.
Sincerely,
Peter Teffer
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 confirmatory request for case
2025/3573, sent on 09/09/2025 and registered on 09/09/2025.
We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 30/09/2025. 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 Mr Teffer,
We are writing to you concerning your correspondence of 9 September 2025,
registered on the same date in case EASE 2025/3573, by which you submit a
confirmatory application in accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation
(EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council
and Commission documents.
Your confirmatory application is currently being handled. However, we have
not yet been able to gather all the elements necessary to carry out a full
analysis of your request and to take a final decision in your case. We
will not be able to send you the reply within the prescribed time limit
expiring today, on 30 September 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 21 October 2025.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Yours sincerely,
SG.A2 - Document Management and Access to Documents
Dear TEFFER, Peter,
Please find attached the electronic version of European Commission
Decision C(2025) 9247 as adopted by the European Commission on 19/12/2025
concerning the request 2025/2740 - 3024 - 3427 - 3439 - 3444 - 3467 - 3468
- 3488 - 3571 & 2025/3706.
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
Dear TEFFER Peter,
Please find attached the electronic version of European Commission
Decision C(2026) 3568 as adopted by the European Commission on 21/05/2026
concerning the request 2025/3573.
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
Dear TEFFER Peter,
Please find attached the electronic version of European Commission
Decision C(2026) 3568 as adopted by the European Commission on 21/05/2026
concerning the request 2025/3573.
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
Peter left an annotation ()
Complaint submitted to the European Ombudsman for implicit refusal on 24 October 2025