More EC secrecy agrofuel certification

The European Commission continues its secrecy regarding the accreditation of voluntary schemes under the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). At least eleven voluntary agrofuel accreditation schemes are currently seeking approval - but the EU Commission has refused to release details of which schemes and companies are involved. In October, CEO, ClientEarth, Friends of the Earth and FERN have sent the Commission an access to document request demanding full and ongoing disclosure of both the names and the content of these schemes.

However, on 7 December 2010, DG ENERGY responded with an effective denial of the request. The groups have now challenged this denial.

Although technically a partial denial, DG ENERGY substantially denied the application by withholding all consequential information, releasing instead just one document, Assessment Framework for Voluntary Schemes. For all other categories of documents—applications, paperwork, email communications, minutes, among others—DG ENERGY denied the request outright. The organisations have now submitted a confirmatory application for reconsideration of the denial to the Secretary General of the European Commission.

They wrote: "The practical effect of this denial is to preclude access to any substantive documentation that would allow the public to meaningfully engage in the environmental decision-making process with respect to certification schemes. Even a list of names of the schemes has not been produced, making it impossible to have any “engagement [..] to discuss the activities of the voluntary scheme”." According to the organisations, DG ENERGY violates two bedrock regulations providing access to environmental information: the Public Access Regulation and the Aarhus Regulation. 

Please read the Commission's response, and the consequent application for reconsideration of the denial here: