Council of the European Union
General Secretariat
Directorate-General Communication and Information - COMM
Directorate Information and Outreach
Information Services Unit / Transparency
Head of Unit
Brussels, 19 March 2024
Mr Alexander Fanta
E-mail: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Ref. 24/0703-vl/vk
Request made on: 27.02.2024
Dear Mr Fanta,
Thank you for your request for access to documents of the Council of the European Union.1
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I regret to inform you that access to document
WK 1475/2024 cannot be given for the reasons set
out below.
The requested document contains a presentation given at the meeting of the Horizontal Working
Party on Enhancing Resilience and Countering Hybrid Threats held on 29 January 2024, focused
on “A framework to measure and monitor countries’ resilience and vulnerability to foreign
information manipulation and interference (FIMI)”.
Following our consultations, and given the sensitive nature of the information contained in the
document, focusing on FIMI trends in Africa, the General Secretariat considers that the release of
this working document to the public cannot be granted as it would allow malicious actors to use the
outcome of critical research concerning regions particularly affected by destabilising hybrid
campaigns and FIMI threats, to cause prejudice to public security and to the EU’s efforts to
facilitate building resilience in such regions. This would undermine public interest as regards public
security and international relations.2
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1
The General Secretariat of the Council has examined your request on the basis of the applicable rules:
Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to
European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43) and the specific
provisions concerning public access to Council documents set out in Annex II to the Council's Rules of Procedure
(Council Decision No 2009/937/EU, OJ L 325, 11.12.2009, p. 35).
2
Article 4(1)(a), first and third indent of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175 - B-1048 Bruxelles/Brussel - Belgique/België
Tel. +32 (0)2 281 67 10 - www.consilium.europa.eu - xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx
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We have also looked into the possibility of releasing parts of document
WK 1475/2024.3 However,
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as the information contained therein forms an inseparable whole, and the exceptions to the right of
access apply to its entire content, the General Secretariat is unable to give partial access.
Pursuant to Article 7(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, you may ask the Council to review this
decision within 15 working days of receiving this reply. Should you see the need for such a review,
you are invited to indicate the reasons thereof.
Yours sincerely,
Fernando FLORINDO
3
Article 4(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001.
Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 175 - B-1048 Bruxelles/Brussel - Belgique/België
Tel. +32 (0)2 281 67 10 - www.consilium.europa.eu - xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xx
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Document Outline
