62021TJ0379_INF
Judgment of the General Court (Ninth Chamber) of 12 July 2023 –Vendrame v Commission
(Case T‑379/21) (
1
)
(Access to documents – Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 – Final report of the investigation by OLAF into the performance of a service contract financed by the EDF – Refusal to grant access – Exception relating to the protection of the decision-making process – Exception relating to protection of the purpose of inspections, investigations and audits – General presumption – Obligation to state reasons)
1.
EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Requirement that the institution should examine the documents specifically and individually – Absence – Possibility of relying on general presumptions applicable to certain categories of documents – Obligation to state reasons – Scope – Statement of reasons limited to reliance on the exception concerned
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1049/2001, Art. 4(2))
(see paragraphs 25-27, 39, 54, 55, 77)
2.
EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Protection of the purpose of inspections, investigations and audits – Application to documents relating to an investigation by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) – General presumption that disclosure of the said documents will undermine protection of the interests involved in such an investigation – Application after the closure of those activities – Conditions
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1049/2001, Art. 4(2), third indent)
(see paragraphs 31-35, 44-47, 51)
3.
EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Protection of the decision-making process – Protection of documents drawn up under a procedure already closed – Scope – Refusal to grant access – Obligation to state reasons – Scope
(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1049/2001, Art. 4(3), second subpara.)
(see paragraphs 58-60, 62, 63)
Operative part
The Court:
1.
Annuls the decision of 26 April 2021 by which the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) refused Mr Michele Vendrame access to its final report and to the annexes thereto at the end of investigation OC/2019/0766/B4;
2.
Dismisses the action as to the remainder;
3.
Orders the European Commission to pay the costs.
(
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)	OJ C 401, 4.10.2021.