The complainant asked the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for public access to a list of expenses related to attendance to meetings, including the names of the members concerned. The EESC disclosed a document listing all daily allowances paid to over 500 EESC members, covering a period of time over two terms of office. However, it did not release the names of the members receiving the payments so as to protect their personal data.

The Ombudsman noted that, following a previous inquiry in 2020, the EESC took steps to improve the transparency of its members’ expenses. In addition, she considered that the complainant had not sufficiently explained why disclosing the members’ names would serve the public interest, as is required for disclosure under EU data protection law. As such, the Ombudsman concluded that the EESC’s decision to refuse access to the names was justified and closed the inquiry finding no maladministration.