Article 6
Treatment of applications for access to classified documents Where an application for access concerns a sensitive document as defined in Article 9(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, or another document classified under the Commission's security rules, it shall be handled by officials entitled to acquaint themselves with the document. Reasons shall be given on the basis of the exceptions listed in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 for any decision refusing access to all or part of a classified document. If it proves that access to the requested document cannot be refused on the basis of these exceptions, the official handling the application shall ensure that the document is declassified before sending it to the applicant. The agreement of the originating authority shall be required if access is to be given to a sensitive document.