European Ombudsman opens inquiry; Commission asked to decide by 4 November
The European Ombudsman has opened an inquiry into how the Commission handled the access request in EASE 2026/2983. She asked the Commission to issue an explicit confirmatory decision as soon as possible and at the latest by 4 November 2026.
Official case page at the European Ombudsman →
Read the letter (PDF, personal data redacted) →
Sequence
- 10 July 2026: DG COMP refuses access in full.
- 27 July 2026: confirmatory application filed.
- 17 August 2026: the Commission’s own time-limit expires without a decision.
- 28 August 2026: the Secretariat-General says consultations are still ongoing.
- 10 September 2026: complaint lodged with the European Ombudsman.
- 14 October 2026: the Ombudsman opens inquiry 2029/2026/ACB.
What the letter says
- The Ombudsman opened an inquiry into the Commission’s handling of the request under Regulation 1049/2001.
- As a first step, she asked the Commission for an explicit confirmatory decision by 4 November 2026 at the latest.
- If the delay persists beyond that date, or if the applicant is dissatisfied with the access granted, the Ombudsman intends to review the documents at issue.
- She asked the Commission whether its services had contacted the applicant since the complaint and, if so, to see those exchanges.
- She regrets the delay but decided not to open a separate inquiry into its reasons. She passed the concern to the Commission and says she is monitoring the Commission’s delays on access requests.
What it does not establish
- That DG COMP’s refusal is wrong, or that any document will be released.
- A finding of maladministration. The inquiry has only been opened.
If the Ombudsman reviews the documents, that review is confidential. It allows her to assess the refusal; it does not by itself make the documents public.
Public copy of the Ombudsman’s letter. Names, signature, telephone numbers, email and postal addresses were removed and the pages flattened to images.
What happens next
The Commission’s confirmatory decision is now expected by 4 November 2026. This page will be updated when it arrives or when the date passes.
Earlier: the missed confirmatory deadline →
The underlying DG COMP refusal →