Request for all documents related to the testing, deployment, and continued use of EU-funded surveillance technologies trialed in the Evros region under projects like ANDROMEDA, NESTOR and ROBORDER.
Dear Migration and Home Affairs,
Dear European Border and Coast Guard Agency,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I hereby request the following information related to the EU-funded projects ANDROMEDA (Grant Agreement No. 833881) and NESTOR (Grant Agreement No. 101021851), ROBORDER (Grant agreement ID: 740593) specifically in relation to the Evros border region of Greece:
Any documentation regarding the trial, operational deployment, or permanent installation of surveillance systems funded through these projects in the Evros area, including but not limited to thermal cameras, radars, drones, ground sensors, patrol boats, or command-and-control software platforms.
Reports or evaluations regarding the continued use of infrastructure beyond the formal trial period, particularly in Orestiada, Fylakio, or the site known locally as the "Forest Hut" (used by the Hellenic Police).
Any Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), legal analyses, or internal assessments concerning the compatibility of these deployments with EU data protection, fundamental rights, or ethical frameworks.
Correspondence or contracts between the European Commission (or Frontex) and Greek national or regional authorities, including the Hellenic Police or the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, regarding implementation or testing of ANDROMEDA or NESTOR and ROBORDER systems in the field.
Given the significant public interest and use of public EU funds, I kindly ask for these documents to be made accessible in full, or with minimal redactions where necessary.
I am happy to clarify or narrow this request if needed and would appreciate confirmation of receipt.
Yours faithfully,
ismini nikoleta mathioudaki
Dear Sir or Madam,
We are writing to you concerning your request for access to documents sent
on 25/07/2025 and registered on 25/07/2025 under case number 2025/3784.
Since you have not indicated your postal address, we are not able to start
handling your request. The 15 working days to reply to your request will
start running only when you send us your postal address.
You can send your postal address by replying to this e-mail. If we do not
receive your reply we may close this case.
Please note that you can submit a request for access to Commission
documents via the portal [1]'Request a Commission document', which does
not require you to indicate your postal address.
Why do we need your personal postal address?
Since 1 April 2014, the submission of a postal address became a mandatory
feature when submitting an application for access to Commission documents
via an e-mail. We would like to explain why we need your postal address in
order to register and handle your application for access to documents when
submitted via e-mail:
• Firstly, to obtain legal certainty as regards the date you received
the European Commission reply to your application for public access to
documents. Article 297 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the
European Union (TFEU) states that 'decisions which specify to whom
they are addressed, shall be notified to those to whom they are
addressed and shall take effect upon such notification.' In line with
this provision, if the Commission does not grant full access to the
requested documents, it notifies the reply to the applicant via
registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt or via delivery
service. This requires an indication of a valid postal address by the
applicant;
• Secondly, to apply correctly the [2]Data Protection Regulation (EU)
2018/1725. Knowing whether the applicant is an EU resident (or not) is
necessary for deciding which conditions shall apply for the
transmissions of personal data to applicants for access to documents.
These conditions are not the same for recipients established in the
Union and for recipients in third countries. As the vast majority of
the documents requested contain personal data, the Commission cannot
ensure the correct application of the data protection rules in the
absence of a postal address;
• Thirdly, to apply correctly [3]Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. Article
4(1)(b) of that Regulation refers to the protection of the privacy and
integrity of the individual and has to be applied in line with the
Data Protection Regulation;
• Fourthly, to protect the interest of other citizens and safeguard the
principle of good administration. The Commission has to treat all
citizens equally by ensuring that the legal framework for public
access to documents is respected. For example, it has to verify
whether Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 is being evaded
by introducing several requests under different identities. Indeed, in
its Ryanair judgment ([4]EU:T:2010:511), the General Court confirmed
that Article 6(3) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 cannot be evaded by
splitting an application into several, seemingly separate, parts. In
addition, the Commission has to make sure that the legal framework is
respected and the right of access to documents is not abused by making
requests under an invented identity.
The considerations above show that the request for and the consequent
processing of the applicant's postal address is not only appropriate, but
also strictly necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the
public interest within the meaning of Article 5(1)(a) of Data Protection
Regulation, namely providing a smooth and effective access to documents.
Yours faithfully,
Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs - Access to Documents
European Commission
References
Visible links
1. https://www.ec.europa.eu/transparency/do...
2. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
3. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
4. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/...
Dear Sir/Madam,
We are writing concerning your request for access to Commission documents
registered under case number EASE 2025/3784.
On 25/07/2025 we asked you to send us your postal address and explained
the reasons why we need it.
Since we have not received your postal address, we have closed this case.
Kind regards,
HOME Access to documents team