1. On 8 March 2018 and on 26 July 2018, the complainant, non-profit organisation who seeks to promote the resolution of conflicts without the use of violence, wrote to the European Commission to request the review of its decisions (which were identified by the Commission as Gestdem 2017/7033, Gestdem 2017/7037 and Gestdem 2018/2431). These decisions concerned the refusal to provide access to documents related to the Group of Personalities on Defence Research and European Defence Fund and to Defence and Development Programme.

2. As the complainant did not receive a reply within the statutory limit as provided for in Regulation 1049/2001 on access to documents[1], it turned to the European Ombudsman, on 23 and 24 October 2018.

3. The Ombudsman’s inquiry team contacted the European Commission which then replied to the complainant on 14, 19 and 26 November 2018.

4. As the replies have now been sent, this complaint is resolved[2] and I have decided to close the case[3].

 

Fergal Ó Regan

Coordination of Public Interest Inquiries - Unit 2

Strasbourg, 18/12/2018

 

[1] Regulation 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to the European Parliament, Council and Commission documents, available at https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32001R1049.

[2] If the complainant considers that the institution’s reply is not satisfactory, it is open to him/her/it to make a new complaint to the Ombudsman.

[3] This complaint has been dealt with under delegated case handling, in accordance with Article 11 of the Decision of the European Ombudsman adopting Implementing Provisions