Purpose: How the European Border and Coast Guard (Frontex) dealt with multiple requests for public access to documents concerning contracts with private companies
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Investigative body: European Ombudsman
Started: January 2021
Status: Decision on 16 June 2021
Summary of the investigation
A complaint was launched with the Ombudsman due to dissatisfaction over Frontex's processing of a request for access to documents concerning contracts between Frontex and private companies, particularly relating to the use of drones.
During the inquiry, the Ombudsman recommended that Frontex:
"should immediately recommence processing the complainant’s access requests, beginning with the most urgent one. She also proposed that Frontex provide the complainant with a list of all documents at issue to enable him to determine the priority of each request."
Frontex accepted the Ombudsman's recommendation.
The Ombudsman further recommended that Frontex process the requests quickly, and improve its communication with applicants to find a fair solution on how to process extensive requests.
Relevant documents:
Frontex’s reply as regards Proposal for a solution in case 2067/2020/MIG on the
European Border and Coast Guard Agency’s (Frontex) handling of multiple requests for
public access to documents made by a single applicant
Frontex's reply as regards complaint 2067/2020/MIG
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