Case C‑451/22

RTL Nederland BV

and
RTL Nieuws BV

v

Minister van Infrastructuur en Waterstaat

(Request for a preliminary ruling from the Raad van State)

Judgment of the Court (Second Chamber) of 18 January 2024

(Reference for a preliminary ruling – Aviation Transport – Regulation (EU) No 376/2014 – Follow-up of occurrences endangering aviation safety – Article 15 – Confidentiality of details relating to those occurrences – Scope of that confidentiality – Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union – Article 11 – Freedom of expression and of information – Freedom of the media – Request for disclosure of information on the downing of an aircraft flying over eastern Ukraine, made by undertakings operating in the media sector – Article 52(1) – Limitation – Conditions)

1. Transport – Aviation transport – Regulation No 376/2014 – Follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation – Information held by national authorities regarding an occurrence relating to aviation safety – Obligation of confidentiality – Scope – Prohibition on access to that information applicable to all persons, including a media undertaking – Infringement of the right to freedom of expression and information – None

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Art. 11; European Parliament and Council Regulation No 376/2014, as amended by Regulation No 2018/1139, Arts 2(7) and 15)

   (see paragraphs 50, 51, 55, 71-76, 85, operative part)

2. Transport – Aviation Transport – Regulation No 376/2014 – Follow-up of occurrences in civil aviation – Information held by national authorities regarding an occurrence relating to aviation safety – Obligation of confidentiality – Limitation on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information – Observance of the principle of proportionality

   (Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Arts 11 and 52(1); European Parliament and Council Regulation No 376/2014, as amended by Regulation 2018/1139)

   (see paragraphs 77-80, 84)

See the text of the decision.