The complainant asked the European External Action Service (EEAS) for public access to documents concerning EU missions and operations conducted under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) since 2003, notably concerning the contributions of EU Member States to those missions and operations. The EEAS gave the complainant documents that contained part of the requested information, but refused access to documents detailing the number of personnel involved and troop contributions per Member State. In doing so, it invoked exceptions under the EU’s rules on public access to documents, arguing that disclosing the information would undermine the protection of public security, defence and military matters and international relations.

The Ombudsman's inquiry team inspected the documents and confirmed that they indeed contain highly sensitive information. The Ombudsman thus concluded that the EEAS was justified in refusing access and closed the inquiry finding no maladministration.