Article 34 When to declassify

Information shall remain classified only for as long as it requires protection. Declassification means that the information shall no longer be considered as classified at all. At the time of its creation, the originator shall indicate, where possible, whether the EUCI can be declassified on a given date or following a specific event. Otherwise, the originator shall regularly review RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED information to determine whether classification is still appropriate.

Information classified RESTREINT UE/EU RESTRICTED that has originated in the Commission will be automatically declassified after thirty years, in accordance with Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 as amended by Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003^f1, and in accordance with Article 59(2)a of Decision (EU, Euratom) 2015/444.

Commission documents may also be declassified on an ad hoc basis, for example following a request for access from the public.