Classification When Who Markings Downgrading/Declassification/Destruction

Who When

TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET: This classification shall be applied only to information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which could cause exceptionally grave prejudice to the essential interests of the European Union or of one or more of its Member States [SII(1)]. The compromise of assets marked TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET would be likely to: — threaten directly the internal stability of the EU or one of its Member States or friendly countries — cause exceptionally grave damage to relations with friendly governments — lead directly to widespread loss of life — cause exceptionally grave damage to the operational effectiveness or security of Member States or other contributors' forces, or to the continuing effectiveness of extremely valuable security or intelligence operations — cause severe long-term damage to the EU or Member States economy. Member States: duly authorised persons (originators) [SIII(4)]; GSC: duly authorised persons (originators) [SIII(4)], SG/HR and DSG. Originators shall specify a date or period when the contents may be downgraded or declassified. Otherwise they shall keep the documents under review every five years at the latest, in order to ensure that the original classification is necessary [SIII(10)]. The classification TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET shall be applied to TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET documents, and where applicable introduce the defence marking ESDP, by mechanical means and by hand [SII(8)]. The EU classifications shall appear at the top and bottom centre of each page, and each page shall be numbered. Each document shall bear a reference number and a date; this reference number shall appear on each page. If they are to be distributed in several copies, each one shall bear a copy number, which will appear on the first page, together with the total number of pages. All annexes and enclosures shall be listed on the first page [SVII(1)]. Declassification or down grading rests solely with the originator, or the SG/HR or DSG, who shall inform of the change any subsequent addressees to whom they have sent or copied the document [SVIII(9)]. TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET documents shall be destroyed by the Central Registry or subregistry responsible for them. Each document destroyed shall be listed in a destruction certificate, signed by the TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET control officer and by the officer witnessing the destruction, who shall be TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET cleared. A note to this effect shall be made in the logbook. The registry shall keep the destruction certificates, together with the distribution sheet, for a period of ten years [SVII(31)]. Surplus copies and documents no longer needed must be destroyed [SVII(31)]. TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET documents, including all classified waste resulting from the preparation of TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET documents such as spoiled copies, working drafts, typed notes and carbon paper, shall be destroyed, under the supervision of a TRÈS SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET officer, by burning, pulping, shredding or otherwise reducing into an unrecognisable and non-reconstitutable form [SVII(31)].

SECRET: This classification shall be applied only to information and material the unauthorised disclosure of which could seriously harm the essential interests of the European Union or of one or more of its Member States [SII(2)]. The compromise of assets marked SECRET UE would be likely to: — raise international tensions — seriously damage relations with friendly governments — threaten life directly or seriously prejudice public order or individual security or liberty — cause serious damage to the operational effectiveness or security of Member States or other contributors' forces, or to the continuing effectiveness of highly valuable security or intelligence operations — cause substantial material damage to EU or one of its Member States financial, monetary, economic and commercial interests. Member States: authorised persons (originators) [SIII(2)]; GSC and EU decentralised agencies: authorised persons (originators) [SIII(2)], Directors General, SG/HR and DSG. Originators shall specify a date or period when the contents may be downgraded or declassified. Otherwise they shall keep the documents under review every five years at the latest, in order to ensure that the original classification is necessary [SVII(1)]. The classification SECRET UE shall be applied to SECRET UE documents, and where applicable introduce the defence marking — ESDP, by mechanical means and by hand [SIII(8)]. The EU classifications shall appear at the top and bottom centre of each page, and each page shall be numbered. Each document shall bear a reference number and a date; this reference number shall appear on each page. If they are to be distributed in several copies, each one shall bear a copy number, which will appear on the first page, together with the total number of pages. All annexes and enclosures shall be listed on the first page [SVII(1)]. Declassification and downgrading rests solely with the originator, or the SG/HR or DSG, who shall inform of the change any subsequent addressees to whom they have sent or copied the document [SVII(9)]. SECRET UE documents shall be destroyed by the registry responsible for those documents, under the supervision of a security cleared person. SECRET UE documents that are destroyed shall be listed on signed destruction certificates to be retained by the Registry, together with the destruction forms, for at least three years [SVII(32)]. Surplus copies and documents no longer needed must be destroyed [SVII(31)]. SECRET UE documents, including all classified waste resulting from the preparation of SECRET UE documents such as spoiled copies, working drafts, typed notes and carbon paper, shall be destroyed by burning, pulping, shredding or otherwise reducing into an unrecognisable and non-reconstitutable form [SVII(31), (32)].

CONFIDENTIEL UE: This classification shall be applied to information and material the unauthorised disclosure of would harm the essential interests of the European Union or of one or more of its Member [SII(3)]. The compromise of assets marked CONFIDENTIEL UE would be likely to: — materially damage diplomatic relations, that is, cause formal protest or other sanctions — prejudice individual security or liberty — cause damage to the operational effectiveness or security of Member States or other contributors' forces, or to the effectiveness of valuable security or intelligence operations — substantially undermine the financial viability of major organisations — impede the investigation or facilitate the commission of serious crime — work substantially against EU or Member States financial, monetary, economic and commercial interests — seriously impede the development or operation of major EU policies — shut down or otherwise substantially disrupt significant EU activities. Member States: authorised persons (originators) [SIII(2)]; GSC and EU decentralised agencies: authorised persons (originators) [SIII(2)], Directors General, SG/HR and DSG. Originators shall specify a date or period when the contents may be downgraded or declassified. Otherwise they shall keep the documents under review every five years at the latest, in order to ensure that the original classification is necessary [SIII(10)]. The classification CONFIDENTIEL UE shall be applied to CONFIDENTIEL UE documents, and where applicable introduce the defence-marking — ESDP, by mechanical means and by hand or by printing on pre-stamped, registered paper [SII(8)]. The EU classifications shall appear at the top and bottom centre on each page, and each page shall be numbered. Each document shall bear a reference number and a date. All annexes and enclosures shall be listed on the first page [SVII(1)]. Declassification and downgrading rests solely with the originator or the SG/HR or DSG, who shall inform of the change any subsequent addressees to whom they have sent or copied the document [SVII(31)]. CONFIDENTIEL UE documents shall be destroyed by the registry respon-sible for those documents, under the supervision of a cleared person. Their destruction shall be recorded in accordance with national regulations and, in the case of GSC or EU decentralised agencies, according to instructions from the SG/HR or DSG [SVII(33)]. Surplus copies and documents no longer needed must be destroyed [SVII(31)]. CONFIDENTIEL UE documents, including all classified waste resulting from the preparation of CONFIDENTIEL UE documents such as spoiled copies, working drafts, typed notes and carbon paper, shall be destroyed by burning, pulping, shredding or otherwise reducing into an unrecognisable and non-reconstitutable form [SVII(31), (33)].