44That interpretation of the word ‘internal’ is supported by the objective pursued by the internal communications exception to the right of access to environmental information. It is apparent from the explanations relating to Article 4 of the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on public access to environmental information presented by the Commission on 29 June 2000 (COM(2000) 402 final – COD 2000/0169, OJ 2000 C 337 E, p. 156) that, like the exception concerning material in the course of completion or unfinished documents, the exception permitting access to internal documents to be refused is intended to meet the need of public authorities to have a protected space in order to engage in reflection and to pursue internal discussions.
Source: EUR-Lex, © European Union, 1998-2026. Reuse authorised under Decision 2011/833/EU.