Das unionale Dokumentenzugangsrecht und sein Verhältnis zum Wettbewerbsrecht

The right of access to EU documents (art. 15 (3) TFEU) is analysed on the basis of its genesis in this thesis. The main focus is on the EU case-law since the regulation (EC) No. 1049/2001 ("Transparency Regulation") has come into effect. Critical appraisal is given to the growing acknowledgement of "general assumptions" of exceptions to the Article 4 Transparency-Regulation. Furthermore, the thesis focuses on the relationship between the right of access to documents on European Competition Law. Alternative approaches to the ECJ-case law on “general assumptions”, which now extend to state aid, merger control and cartel proceedings, are presented. In addition, the question is raised as to whether leniency documents are subject to a separate treatment within the structure of the Transparency Regulation.