The complainant, a non-governmental organisation, asked the European Commission to grant public access to documents concerning the proposed Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (AI Act). The Commission identified 14 documents as falling within the scope of the request. It refused to disclose two of the documents and disclosed only parts of two further documents. In doing so, it invoked an exception under the EU legislation on public access to documents, arguing that disclosure could undermine international relations.

The Ombudsman opened an inquiry and sought to inspect the documents in question. They also held a meeting with the Commission, during which the Commission informed them that it had decided to provide broader access to the documents, given the passage of time.

The Ombudsman welcomed the Commission’s decision and closed the inquiry.