The time the European Commission takes to deal with requests for public access to documents

Wording as published by the EP, in English.

1. Amendment 1 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Adopted

   Paragraph 7 a (new)

   Tabled by Marc Botenga · The Left

   Added: 7a. Requests the immediate and full publication of all contracts for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines financed wholly or partially with public funds;

2. Amendment 2 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Adopted

   Paragraph 10 a (new)

   Tabled by Manon Aubry, Marc Botenga · The Left

   Added: 10a. Calls on the Commission to finally and immediately publish the text messages that the President of the Commission and the CEO of the pharmaceutical company Pfizer exchanged during the negotiations on the procurement of 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in the light of the unexplained 25 % increase of the price per dose, which resulted in a total cost of EUR 35 billion in public money;

3. Amendment 3 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Adopted

   Paragraph 11

   Tabled by Manon Aubry · The Left

   … Parliament will consider using all available parliamentary instruments to address the matter; Added: recalls that Parliament has the right to bring action against the Commission before the Court of Justice of the EU on the grounds of infringement of the Treaties, including Article 15(3) TFEU on the right of EU citizens and residents to access documents;

4. Amendment 4 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Rejected

   Paragraph 11

   Tabled by Manon Aubry · The Left

   … by the time the new College of Commissioners is established, Parliament will Removed: consider using Added: use all available parliamentary instruments to address the Removed: matter; Added: matter and bring action against the Commission before the Court of Justice of the EU for the breach of its obligation to provide access to documents, as enshrined in the Treaties;

5. Amendment 5 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Adopted

   Paragraph 4 a (new)

   Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

   Added: 4a. Recalls with great concern that, in 2021, following a request for public access to text messages between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the CEO of a pharmaceutical company regarding the Commission’s purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, the Commission refused to acknowledge that such text messages fall within the definition of a ‘document’ under Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001; recalls that the registration of a document is a consequence of, not a prerequisite for, that document’s existence; takes note of the Ombudsman’s finding of maladministration by the Commission in this case; is concerned by the fact that the Commission has failed to follow up on the Ombudsman’s recommendation following her inquiry to conduct another search for relevant text messages; calls on the Commission to conduct a full search without delay; expresses deep concern about the growing distance between citizens and the EU institutions, which this situation has worsened;

6. Amendment 6 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Adopted

   Paragraph 4 b (new)

   Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

   Added: 4b. Notes with great concern that the Ombudsman has received many citizens’ complaints about extreme delays in gaining access to requested documents; supports the Ombudsman’s views that access delayed is effectively access denied and that administrative processes should be streamlined to ensure that citizens receive access to documents in a timely manner;

7. Amendment 7 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Rejected

   Citation 10 a (new)

   Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

   Added: – having regard to the discharge procedure for the 2021 EU general budget - Commission and executive agencies1a; __________________ 1a Texts Adopted, P9_TA(2023)0137.

8. Amendment 8 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Adopted

   Paragraph 4 c (new)

   Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

   Added: 4c. Recalls that, according to the European Ombudsman, restrictions on access to documents, particularly legislative documents, should be exceptional and limited to what is absolutely necessary; recalls further that any decision denying public access to documents must be based on clearly and strictly defined legal exemptions, accompanied by a reasoned and specific justification, to enable citizens to understand the denial of access and make effective use of the legal remedies available; considers that a more proactive approach would help ensure effective transparency and prevent costly and burdensome legal disputes between citizens and institutions;

9. Amendment 9 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Rejected

   Paragraph 5 b (new)

   Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

   Added: 5b. Condemns the lack of transparency from the Commission and pharmaceutical companies regarding the development, purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines;

10. Amendment 10 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Rejected

    Paragraph 4 d (new)

    Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

    Added: 4d. Notes with concern that, to date, the Commission has not made available the unredacted versions of the contracts signed with the producers of the COVID-19 vaccines, not only to the public, but even to the Members of the European Parliament;

11. Amendment 11 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Rejected

    Paragraph 4 d (new)

    Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

    Added: 4d. Calls on the Commission to publish the unredacted versions of the purchase agreements for the COVID-19 vaccines immediately;

12. Amendment 12 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Rejected

    Paragraph 6 a (new)

    Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

    Added: 6a. Recalls that, in its resolution on public access to documents – annual report for the years 2019-2021 , Parliament underlined that the Commission had been deleting documents, including minutes of closed meetings, reports and internal documents; expresses its concern about the fact that this practice has led to the disappearance of important correspondence relevant to policy decisions; calls on the Commission to ensure the systematic registration and archiving of non-private correspondence related to key political decisions and spending; _________________________

13. Amendment 13 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Rejected

    Paragraph 11 a (new)

    Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

    Added: 11a. Notes that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that there is an ongoing investigation into the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines in the Union1a; __________________ 1a European Public Prosecutor’s Office, ‘Ongoing EPPO investigation into the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines in the EU’, 14 October 2022.

14. Amendment 14 · Motion for a resolution B9-0162/2024 (LIBE Committee)Adopted

    Paragraph 2 a (new)

    Tabled by Cristian Terheş · ECR

    Added: 2a. Welcomes the Ombudsman’s practical recommendations on how to record text and instant messages sent or received by staff members in their professional capacity1a; recognises that work-related text and instant messages are ‘documents’ within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 on public access to documents and invites the other EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies to recognise this, to follow the Ombudsman’s recommendations accordingly and to make this follow-up public; __________________ 1a European Ombudsman, ‘Closing note on the strategic initiative on how EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies record text and instant messages sent/received by staff members in their professional capacity (SI/4/2021/MIG)’, 13 July 2022.