The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union has refused public access to nine Commission documents related to the multiannual financial framework (MFF), arguing that disclosure would seriously undermine the ongoing interinstitutional decision-making process. The refusal, detailed in a note dated 26 June 2026, follows a confirmatory application filed by an applicant on 23 June 2026 after an initial rejection on 7 May 2026.
The documents in question are Commission presentations (WK 847, 1047, 1048, 1045, 1815, 1979, 2234, 6581, 4059, all 2026) prepared for the Ad hoc Working Party on the MFF, which met between January and May 2026. The applicant also sought six revised Presidency compromise proposals (documents 7723/26, 8087/26, 8315/26, 8605/2026, WK 4059/2026, WK 5315/2026). The General Secretariat identified 19 documents in total; five were already publicly accessible in the Council's register, and three were attached to the reply. Access to the nine Commission documents was denied under Article 4(3) first subparagraph of Regulation 1049/2001, which protects the decision-making process from serious harm.
The applicant contests the refusal, arguing it is inconsistent with a previous similar request where all documents were released. The Council maintains that the ongoing negotiations on the future MFF require confidentiality to preserve the integrity of the process. The decision affects stakeholders following the MFF negotiations, including EU institutions, member state governments, and civil society organisations seeking transparency in EU budget discussions. The Council's refusal may face further challenge before the European Ombudsman or the Court of Justice of the European Union.