Strasbourg, 22/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Ombudsman, Jacob Soderman has asked the European Commission to reconsider its refusal to provide access to two environmental studies. The organisation Friends of the Earth had asked to be sent two reports prepared by an independent consultant on the respect in the United Kingdom and Gibraltar of directives on waste and hazardous waste, as well as the directive on the protection of habitats. The Commission explained its refusal by the fact that these studies contain important information in the context of future infringement procedures. The Ombudsman considers that this is too broad an interpretation of exemption based on inspection and investigation activities, which should be applied in the case where the documents requested were prepared in the framework of an investigation related to an infringement procedure. Yet, the two documents were commissioned before the opening of an enquiry to consider different possible options. The Ombudsman concludes that, whence the Commission is wrong to refuse access to the documents. The Commission has until 30 June to respond to the Ombudsman's recommendation.