Dear Human Resources and Security,

Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which relate to any article 16, article 12B, or article 40 (staff regulations) applications made by Marcus Lippold, adviser in DG Energy, since the answer to GestDem 2017/4842.

In particular, I request a note of all Mr Lippold's application(s) that he has made under articles 12b, 16, or 40 to undertake a new professional activity (or to secure authorisation for an existing one); and all documents (correspondence, emails, meeting notes etc) related to the authorisation of these roles.

Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
CEO
Rue d'Edimbourg 26
Bruxelles 1050

Dear Human Resources and Security,

Thank you for your reply to my request 2023/3724. I was surprised to be refused all documents and any information and I would like you to pass on this confirmatory application.

Firstly, I note that in the past a list of documents and information were provided about this individual and other individuals following similar requests:
https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/art_... for 2017/4842
https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/marc... for 2015-4702
https://www.asktheeu.org/en/alaveteli_pr... for 2020-4378

Secondly, there is a significant public and media interest in how the Commission's revolving door rules are applied to incoming and outgoing staff. As you will know, revolving doors remain a significant area of controversy for the Commission, and an area of legitimate inquiry due to the risk of conflicts of interest and undue corporate influence when staff move, seemingly without restriction, from the private sector to the Commission and vice versa. I note that last year the European Ombudsman said "The European Commission risks undermining the integrity of the EU administration without a more robust approach to the movement of staff to the private sector". https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press...

Thirdly, there is a significant conflict of interest risk in this case considering Mr Lippold's multiple revolving doors moves between the Commission and the fossil fuel industry. Online we can see articles describing Mr Lippold (in October 2022) as "Team Leader Energy, Environment, Climate & Green Deal, DG NEAR" https://www.energycharter.org/media/news... yet his own LinkedIn site describes himself as "Principal Representative, Europe& Russia, Saudi Aramco, Mar 2015 - Present · 8 yrs 5 mo" https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-lippo... Saudi Aramco is a major fossil fuel polluter whose commercial interests are diametrically opposed to the public interest in tackling the climate crisis, and we consider that extra care should be taken in handling conflicts of interest in such cases.

All in all, there is a legitimate interest in information being made publicly available about Mr Lippold's career moves, including incoming, outgoing and sabbatical moves; if and how the Commission has enforced its own revolving doors rules; how the Commission has judged the conflict of interest risk in this case; and what if any precautions or restrictions have been put in place.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully,

Vicky Cann

Dear Human Resources and Security,

Further to my confirmatory application dated 19 July for 2023/3724, please could you acknowledge receipt of it and let me know when I will receive a response?

Yours faithfully,

Vicky Cann

Dear Human Resources and Security,

Further to my confirmatory application dated 19 July for 2023/3724, please could you acknowledge receipt of it and let me know when I will receive a response? It has now been nearly 5 months since this confirmatory application was submitted to the Commission.

Yours faithfully,

Vicky Cann

Dear SG ACCES DOCUMENTS,

Please can you confirm when I will receive a response to my confirmatory application for 2023/3724?

Thank you in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Vicky Cann

Dear SG ACCES DOCUMENTS,

Please can you confirm when I will receive a response to my confirmatory application for 2023/3724 which was originally sent on 19/7/2023?

Thank you in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Vicky Cann

Dear SG ACCES DOCUMENTS,

Please can you confirm when I will receive a response to my confirmatory application for 2023/3724 which was originally sent on 19/7/2023?

The lack of update in this case is frustrating and soon I will have no choice but to resort to the Ombudsman.

Thank you in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Vicky Cann