European Ombudsman

• The European Commission’s failure to reply to correspondence regarding a complaint about an alleged infringement by Latvia of Directive 2009/103 on insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles (CHAP(2022)01253)

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• Annual Activity Report of the Authorising Officer by Delegation 2024

  Please download pdf document attached.

• Decision on the refusal of the European Commission to give public access to its letter of formal notice concerning Finland’s alleged failure to comply with the Water Framework Directive (case 1667/2025/SF)

  The complainant sought public access to the European Commission’s letter of formal notice in an infringement procedure concerning Finland’s alleged failure to comply with the Water Framework Directive. The Commission refused access to the letter in its entirety. In doing so, it invoked an exception under the EU legislation on public access to documents, arguing that disclosing the letter could undermine the protection of the purpose of investigations.

  Dissatisfied with this reply, the complainant asked the Commission to review its decision. He argued that there was an overriding public interest in disclosure as the requested documents concern emissions into ground water and surface water. When the Commission maintained its refusal to disclose the document, based on the need to protect the purpose of investigations and a related general presumption of confidentiality, the complainant turned to the Ombudsman.

  The Ombudsman inquiry team inspected the document at issue. Th

• How the European Commission handled a request for public access to documents related to projects seeking the status of ‘Strategic Project’ under the Critical Raw Materials Act

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• Decision on the European Commission’s refusal to give full public access to documents concerning the activities of the International Monitoring Operation in Albania (case 1513/2025/NH)

  The case concerned a request for public access to documents held by the European Commission related to concerns about professional conduct raised by members of the International Monitoring Operation in Albania. The Commission identified one document (a letter) as falling within the scope of the request and granted partial access to it. It refused access to parts of the letter based on the need to protect privacy and the public interest as regards the EU’s international relations.

  The Ombudsman inquiry team reviewed the document and confirmed that the parts withheld contain personal data and sensitive information. The Ombudsman found the Commission’s arguments justifying the redactions of personal data to be reasonable. She also found that it was not manifestly wrong for the Commission to argue that disclosure of certain sensitive parts of the letter would undermine the EU’s international relations with Albania.

  The Ombudsman therefore closed the inquiry finding no mala