Brussels, 07 October 2020
WK 10461/2020 INIT
LIMITE
API
INF
WORKING PAPER
This is a paper intended for a specific community of recipients. Handling and
further distribution are under the sole responsibility of community members.
WORKING DOCUMENT
From:
General Secretariat of the Council
To:
Working Party on Information (Transparency)
Working Party on Information
Subject:
Summary of discussions at the informal videoconference of the members of the
Working Party on Information of 29 September 2020
Delegations will find attached the summary of discussions at the informal videoconference of the
members of the Working Party on Information of 29 September 2020.
WK 10461/2020 INIT
LIMITE
EN
Summary of discussions at the informal videoconference of the members of the Working
Party on Information of 29 September 2020
1.
Adoption of the agenda
The WPI adopted the agenda in CM 3606/20, without any amendments.
2.
Draft guidance on Sponsorship of the Presidency of the Council of the EU - Follow-up to
the European Ombudsman's Recommendation on complaint 1069/2019/MIG
7518/20 INF 85 API 60 JUR 169 INST 69
9002/1/20 INF 126 API 85 JUR 280 INST 114 OMBUDS 12 REV 1
The Chair and the General Secretariat (GSC) introduced the item, highlighting the non-binding
nature of the guidance to be transposed in the Presidency handbook.
Whereas a large majority of delegations supported in general the new text, certain delegations had
circulated some amendments beforehand which were presented in the meeting.
In his conclusions, the Chair urged those delegations who wish to enter more suggestions to share
them with the GSC immediately after the meeting. Next step will be the fine tuning of the guidance,
taking into account the orientations which emerged from the majority of delegations and, where
appropriate, the proposed amendments. The final text will be circulated soon, the intention being to
include it in the next version of the Presidency Handbook.
3.
Confirmatory application No 20/1/c/2020
10432/20 INF 155 API 105
10433/20 INF 156 API 106
The Chair and the GSC introduced the item and explained the approach proposed in document
10433/20.
In the discussion of this confirmatory application, a clear majority of delegations expressed
themselves in favour of full release. Delegations were informed that a draft reply to the
confirmatory application will be submitted for written consultation of the WPI and subsequently to
Coreper and Council for adoption.
4.
AOB
Referring to the European Ombudsman's letter (doc. 10930/20), the Chair informed delegations on
the Ombudsman's Own Initiative Inquiry on Transparency of Council decision-making during the
COVID-19 crisis
and outlined the next steps of the procedure.
Document Outline
