1. 

Judicial proceedings – Admissibility of actions – Objection of lis pendens – Same parties, subject matter and submissions in two actions – Form of order sought identical to that of an action declared inadmissible – Cessation of lis alibi pendens – Admissibility

(Rules of Procedure of the General Court, Art. 86)

(see paragraphs 20-23)

2. 

EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Protection of privacy and integrity of the individual – Applicability of all of the provisions of Regulation 2018/1725 – Obligation on the applicant to demonstrate the need to communicate the personal data in question – Obligation on the institution to verify of its own motion whether the legitimate interests of the person concerned have been prejudiced

(European Parliament and Council Regulations No 1049/2001, Art. 4(1)(b), and 2018/1725, Arts 3(1), 5 and 9(1)(a) and (b))

(see paragraphs 31-37)

3. 

EU institutions – Protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data – Regulation 2018/1725 – Request for access to personal data – Obligation to establish the need to transfer those data – Scope – Public interest in disclosure of the data – Invocation of justifications related to the safeguarding of national security and public safety – Invocation of the principle of transparency – Need to put forward particular considerations in relation to the case

(European Parliament and Council Regulations No 1049/2001, recital 2 and Art. 4(1)(b), and 2018/1725, recital 28 and Art. 9(1)(b))

(see paragraphs 41, 42, 45-51)

4. 

EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Protection of legal advice – Scope – Refusal to disclose opinions of the Commission’s Legal Service containing draft contract terms relating to negotiations with producers of COVID-19 vaccines – Overriding public interest in disclosure – None

(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1049/2001, recitals 2 and 6 and Art. 4(2), second indent, and (7))

(see paragraphs 58-60, 62-69)

5. 

EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Protection of the decision-making process – Scope – Documents relating to ongoing negotiations for the conclusion of advance purchase agreements in respect of COVID-19 vaccines – Overriding public interest justifying the disclosure of documents – None – Time-limited application of the exception

(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1049/2001, Art. 4(3), first subpara., and (7))

(see paragraphs 76-77, 84-93)

6. 

EU institutions – Right of public access to documents – Regulation No 1049/2001 – Exceptions to the right of access to documents – Protection of the commercial interests of a third party – Refusal to grant access – Obligation to state reasons – Scope – Possibility of relying on general presumptions applicable to certain categories of documents

(European Parliament and Council Regulation No 1049/2001, Art. 4(2), first indent)

(see paragraphs 100-104, 107, 110-112)

1. 

Dismisses the action;

2. 

Orders Mr Hans-Wilhelm Saure to pay the costs.