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Public Access to Documents

What is the right of access to documents?

In accordance with the principle of transparency and the right for individuals to access documents, citizens of the European Union and any other natural or legal person residing or having a registered office in a Member State have, subject to certain principles, conditions and limits, a right of access to documents produced or held by EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies. Access may only be refused in specific, exceptional circumstances.

Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 provides general rules for access to documents. Implementing rules for access to EPPO documents have been adopted by the College of the EPPO on 21 October 2020.

The EPPO makes a large number of documents produced or received by it directly available to the public through its website. Furthermore, to enhance transparency and facilitate access to its documents, it has set up a Public Register on its website, containing reference to, or making directly available many more documents.

In accordance with Article 109 (1) of Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1939 (the EPPO Regulation), the right of access to documents does not apply to documents which are part of the investigation files of the EPPO.

 

How to request access to EPPO documents?

If an EPPO document has not been published on or cannot be accessed from the Public Register, individuals (physical or legal persons) may request to have access to it. The application shall be made in writing. The document requested must be identified with sufficient precision. A justification for the request is not mandatory.

Requests for access to documents may be submitted via the form below.

Applications will be acknowledged and processed by the EPPO within 15 working days from their registration. In exceptional cases, this time limit may be extended by a further 15 working days. The EPPO will reply to the applicant in writing and, in the event of a full or partial refusal, will provide the reasons for its decision. Within 15 working days of receiving the EPPO’s reply refusing access, the applicant may make a confirmatory application asking the EPPO to reconsider its decision.

Applicants may contest the EPPO’s final decision on their application by bringing an action before the Court of Justice of the European Union or by lodging a complaint with the European Ombudsman.

 

Your personal data submitted through this form are processed and stored by the EPPO in accordance with Regulation 2018/1725 on the processing of personal data by Union bodies, such as the EPPO. For details on the processing, and how to exercise your rights, please see the dedicated data protection notice

 

Submit your request here:

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