Judgment_paragraph 33 · Land Baden-Württemberg v D.R (C-619/19)

33As is apparent from the scheme of Directive 2003/4 and, in particular, from the second subparagraph of Article 4(2) and recital 16, the right to information means that the disclosure of information should be the general rule and that public authorities should be permitted to refuse a request for environmental information only in a few specific and clearly defined cases. The exceptions to the right of access should, consequently, be interpreted restrictively, in such a way that the public interest served by disclosure is weighed against the interest served by the refusal of disclosure (judgment of 28 July 2011, Office of Communications, C‑71/10, EU:C:2011:525, paragraph 22).