The General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union has refused full access to document 9874/26, which concerns a Member State's objection to Bulgaria's planned 'Bulgarian Alphabet' €2 commemorative coin, and has received a confirmatory application requesting review of that decision. The initial request for access was sent on 11 June 2026 and registered the same day. The General Secretariat replied on 24 July 2026, granting partial access to the document (dated 29 May 2026) but refusing disclosure of the objecting Member State's letter and identity. The refusal is based on the Member State's explicit opposition to disclosure under Article 4(5) of Regulation 1049/2001, protection of the ongoing decision-making process under Article 4(3), and protection of monetary policy under Article 4(1)(a). The confirmatory application was submitted on 24 July 2026 and registered the same day. The applicant argues an overriding public interest exists because media reports (citing diplomatic sources naming Greece) already circulate the substance of the objection, and continued withholding undermines transparency. The Council states no other documents are held and no meetings of Council preparatory bodies have discussed the issue.
The case highlights tensions between transparency and the confidentiality of Member State positions in sensitive monetary policy matters.
The Council's decision impacts EU citizens and transparency advocates who seek access to documents shaping euro coin designs, while protecting the objecting Member State's procedural rights and the integrity of ongoing consultations. The confirmatory application will be reviewed by the Council, which may uphold or overturn the initial refusal.