Decision in case 1541/2018/JN on the Research Executive Agency’s refusal to provide full access to documents related to its assessment of an EU-funded project

Wednesday | 14 August 2019

The case concerned the Research Executive Agency’s handling of several requests for access to documents made in the context of its assessment of an EU-funded project. The complainant, who represents a consortium having participated in the project, was dissatisfied that the Agency disclosed only redacted versions of the documents and criticised the Agency’s procedural conduct.

The Ombudsman found that the Agency’s handling of the requests was satisfactory both as regards the procedural aspects and the justification provided for partial disclosure only.

Decision in case 284/2019/JN on the European Commission’s refusal to disclose documents related to two state aid investigations concerning the Czech Post

Wednesday | 07 August 2019

The case concerned the European Commission’s refusal to disclose several documents forming part of files concerning its state aid investigations.

The Ombudsman examined the documents in question and considered that the Commission’s position is in line with the current case-law of the Court of Justice. Accordingly, the Ombudsman closed the case considering that there was no maladministration.

The European Commission’s handling of a request for full public access to drafts of an article on the copyright directive published on the Commission's website

Monday | 05 August 2019

The European Commission’s handling of a request for full public access to drafts of an article on the copyright directive published on the Commission's website.

Decision in case 799/2019/FP on the Educational, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency’s refusal to disclose the names of staff members carrying out a monitoring mission in Macedonia in the context of Creative Europe MEDIA Sub-programme

Tuesday | 30 July 2019

The case concerned the refusal by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) to disclose the names of staff members who supervised a project in Macedonia.

The Ombudsman found that the EACEA was justified in refusing to disclose the names of the staff members in question and closed the case.

The European Parliament’s refusal to deal with requests for public access to documents concerning parliamentary missions to third countries

Friday | 26 July 2019

The European Parliament’s refusal to deal with requests for public access to documents concerning parliamentary missions to third countries.

How the European Parliament handled a request for information and public access to documents on the use of EU funds in Albania

Friday | 26 July 2019

How the European Parliament handled a request for information and public access to documents on the use of EU funds in Albania.

The Council of the EU’s failure to deal with a request for public access to documents concerning Coca Cola’s sponsorship of the Romanian Presidency of the Council

Friday | 26 July 2019

The Council of the EU’s failure to deal with a request for public access to documents concerning Coca Cola’s sponsorship of the Romanian Presidency of the Council.

How the European Commission dealt with a request for public access to a letter of formal notice concerning an infringement procedure against France on the non -compliance with the transposition of Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information

Thursday | 25 July 2019

How the European Commission dealt with a request for public access to a letter of formal notice concerning an infringement procedure against France on the non -compliance with the transposition of Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information.

The European Commission’s refusal to grant full access to a report on property rights in Albania

Wednesday | 24 July 2019

The European Commission’s refusal to grant full access to a report on property rights in Albania

Decision in case 2076/2018/LM on the European Commission’s refusal to grant public access to documents concerning an ‘EU Pilot’ procedure on Italy’s compliance with EU health and safety law in the workplace

Tuesday | 23 July 2019

The case concerned a request for public access to documents of the European Commission concerning an ‘EU Pilot procedure’ on Italy’s compliance with the directive on health and safety in the workplace. The Commission refused access, even though the procedure was no longer ongoing, because it was analysing infringement complaints and petitions that could lead it to reopen dialogue with the Italian government on the same issue.

The Ombudsman found that the Commission was justified in not disclosing the documents, as doing so could affect its investigation of the new complaints on the same matter. She thus closed the inquiry with a finding of no maladministration.