7.4.2004 Official Journal of the European Union L 102/81 DECISION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF THE EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS of 26 March 2004 on the adoption of rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 on public access to documents (2004/321/EC) THE ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD, Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 1649/2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 on the creation of a European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 1417/ 76 (), Whereas: (1)  The general principles and limits governing right of access to documents As provided for in Article 255 of the Treaty have been laid down by Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission docu- ments (%). (2)  When Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 was adopted, the three institutions agreed in a joint declaration that the Agencies and similar bodies should implement rules conforming to those of that Regulation. (3)  Regulation (EC) No 1649/2003 of 18 June 2003 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 on the creation of a European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 1417/76 states that Regulation EC 1049/2001 shall apply to documents held by the Foundation. (4)  Regulation (EC) No 1649/2003 states also that the Administrative Board shall adopt practical arrangements for implementing Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 within six months of 29 September 2003, or entry into force of Council Regulation (EC) No 1649/2003. (5)  Clear rules will assist smooth administration by helping those responsible to deal accurately and rapidly with applications made by the public, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Applicability and scope 1. The right of access concerns documents held by the Foun- dation, that is to say, documents drawn up or received by it and in its possession. () OJ L 245, 29.9.2003, p. 25. () OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, p. 43. 2. Citizens of the European Union and natural or legal persons residing or having their registered office in a Member State shall exercise right of access to Foundation documents pursuant to Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. 3. Pursuant to Article 2(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/ 2001, citizens of third countries not residing in a Member State and legal persons not having their registered office in one of the Member States shall enjoy the right of access to Founda- tion documents on the same terms as the beneficiaries referred to in Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. Article 2 Applications for access 1. Applications for access to Foundation documents which are not publicly available shall be made in written form, including electronic form and in a sufficiently precise manner to enable the Foundation to identify the documents. 2. The Foundation shall answer initial and confirmatory access applications within 15 working days from the date of registration of the application. 3. In the case of complex or bulky applications, the deadline may be extended by 15 working days. Reasons must be given for any extension of the deadline and it must be notified to the applicant beforehand. 4. If an application is imprecise, as referred to in Article 6(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, the Foundation shall ask the applicant to provide additional information making it possible to identify the documents requested; the deadline for reply shall run only from the time when the Foundation has this informa- tion. 5. Any decision which is partly negative shall state the reason for the refusal based on one of the exceptions listed in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001. Article 3 Treatment of initial applications 1. As soon as the application is registered, an acknowledge- ment of receipt shall be sent to the applicant, unless the answer can be sent by return post. The acknowledgement of receipt and the answer shall be sent in writing, where appropriate, by electronic means.