PFAS lobbying since 1 January 2023
Dear Trade,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I would like to request access to the following documents related to lobbying on PFAS, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. In particular I would like:
1. A list of all meetings/ discussions since 1 January 2023 between officials and or Commissioners with businesses, trade associations, or think tanks where this topic was discussed.
2. Any records, minutes, preparatory briefings, or other notes of these meetings/discussions.
3. All correspondence since 1 January 2023, where this topic was discussed, exchanged between officials and or Commissioners with businesses, trade associations, or think tanks.
To the extent possible, my strong preference is to receive documents in electronic format.
I would also be grateful to receive the documents in batches, as soon as they are identified and available to send.
Please note that I am tabling this request separately to DG Clima, DG Defis, DG Energy, DG Sante, DG JRC, and DG Trade of the Commission, and a similar request to DG Environment, DG Grow, and the Secretariat-General, and I look forward to receiving the respective documents accordingly.
Thank you in advance.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
CEO
Rue d'Edimbourg 26
1050 Brx
Dear Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your request for access to documents
sent on 26/01/2024 and registered on 30/01/2024 under the case number
2024/0594.
We will handle your request within 15 working days as of the date of
registration. The time-limit expires on 20/02/2024. 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 Trade - Access to Documents
European Commission
References
Visible links
1. https://ec.europa.eu/info/principles-and...
Dear Ms CANN,
We are writing concerning your request for access to Commission documents
registered on 30/01/2024 under case number 2024/0594 .
Your application is currently being handled and the reply to it should be
finalised very soon. However, we will not be in a position to complete the
handling of your application within the time limit of 15 working days,
which expires on 20/02/2024 i.e. today.
An extended time limit is needed as the application concerns documents
held by different Services.
Therefore, in line with Article 7(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, we
need to extend this time limit by 15 additional working days. The new time
limit expires on 12/03/2024.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Kind regards,
ATD team
DG TRADE
Dear Ms CANN,
Please find attached a message concerning your request for access to
Commission documents registered under the above case number 2024/0594.
Please acknowledge the receipt of this message by return email.
Kind regards,
ATD TEAM
DG TRADE
Dear Trade,
Thank you for the documents on 2024/0594.
I note the contents of the supplied documents: but were there no Commission reponses to these documents, especially documents 3 and 4? AmCham also requested a meeting; did this go ahead and if so, are there minutes for this? And was there no accompanying paperwork to document 5 to explain how it arrived with DG Trade?
I plan to make a confirmatory application regarding the refusal to share document 6. Please confirm whether you can answer the above queries quickly, or whether I should combine all of my questions and concerns into one confirmatory application.
Thank you in advance.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
Dear Ms Cann,
Thank you for your e-mail of 16 May 2024 concerning your Access to documents request - PFAS lobbying since 1 January 2023 registered under EASE reference number 2024/0594 and the subsequent Reply by DG TRADE.
We would like to reiterate our position, having identified 6 documents, including main documents and their respective attachments, falling within the scope of your request.
As stated in our Reply, in accordance with Article 7(2) of Regulation 1049/2001, you are entitled to make a confirmatory application requesting the Commission to review this position.
Kind regards
ATD Team
DG TRADE
Dear Trade,
Please pass this on to the person who reviews confirmatory applications. I am filing the following confirmatory application with regards to my access to documents request 'PFAS lobbying since 1 January 2023', 2024/0594.
Thank you for the reply of 24 May.
I note the contents of the supplied documents: but were there no Commission reponses to these documents, especially documents 3 and 4? AmCham also requested a meeting; did this go ahead and if so, are there minutes for this? And was there no accompanying paperwork to document 5 to explain how it arrived with DG Trade? I would like it to be double-checed that this is indeed all the documents.
Secondly, I note that document 6 was not provided. Third-party authors do not have a veto on the release of documents and, as you will be aware there is a strong public interest in the PFAS issue. Is it really the case that the entire document is to be considered as commercially sensitive?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
Dear Sir or Madam,
We hereby acknowledge the receipt of your confirmatory request for case
2024/0594, sent on 24/05/2024 and registered on 24/05/2024.
We will handle your confirmatory request within 15 working days as of the
date of registration. The time-limit expires on 14/06/2024. 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 Madam,
We are writing concerning your confirmatory request for access to
Commission documents for case 2024/594 registered on 24/05/2024.
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 14/06/2024.
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 05/07/2024.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Best regards,
Secretariat-General of the European Commission
Unit SG.C.1 – Transparency, Document management and Access to documents
References
Visible links
1. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Trade,
Please can you let me know when I will receive a reply to my confirmatory request for 'PFAS lobbying since 1 January 2023', 2024/0594, tabled on 24 May?
It is now substantially overdue.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
Dear Trade,
I have been reviewing again the documents sent to me via 2024/0594.
Aside from the ongoing confirmatory application, I have noted that the description for document 5 in the table (Ares(2023)6737802 Briefing request – Governments'/Authorities' Meeting on Semiconductors (GAMS); 17-19
October 2023 in Phoenix, US Annex 12) does not seem to match the doucument provided which is called "5 new Ares 2023 6737802 Annex 12 ESIA Submission to PFAS restriction consultation Redacted". I wonder if there has been a mistake and if you might send me the "Briefing request – Governments'/Authorities' Meeting on Semiconductors (GAMS); 17-19 October 2023 in Phoenix, US Annex 12"?
Thank you in advance.
Yours faithfully,
Vicky Cann
Dear Ms CANN,
Thank you for your e-mail of 2 October 2024. Please be informed that your confirmatory request to EASE 2024/0594 is now dealt with by the Secretariat-General of the European Commission that reviews the entire scope and content of the Initial Reply. You should receive a response from the European Commission soon.
Best regards
ATD TEAM
DG TRADE
Dear [email address],
I submitted my confirmatory application for 2024/0594 on 24 May. It is substantially overdue and I would be grateful for a speedy response and an indication of when that will be.
Thanks,
Yours sincerely,
Vicky Cann
Dear CANN, Vicky,
Please find attached the electronic version of European Commission
Decision C(2025)1113 as adopted by the European Commission on 12/02/2025
concerning the request 2024/0594.
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.C.1