21 DECEMBER 2004
European Investment Bank Plans Disclosure Policy Review

The European Investment Bank Dec. 14 announced plans to conduct a review of its Public Information Policy, and requested public comment on its existing policy.

The consultative process will be launched in the first quarter of 2005.
The EIB did not offer proposal for change, asking instead that comments focus on the EIB's existing public information policy as contained in key two documents, available on the EIB website and published in October 2002:

• Public Access to Information - Information Policy Statement (http://www.eib.org/publications/strategies/publication.asp?publ=64), this outlines the general principles, including a commitment to make as much information available as possible, taking into account the EIB's duties as an institution and a bank. It makes reference to the EU Regulation EC/1049/2001 on public access to documents, to the extent it applies to the EIB.
• Public Access to Information - Rules on Public Access to Documents (http://www.eib.org/publications/strategies/publication.asp?publ=63), as revised on rules published in 1997, taking into account the spirit and limitations of EU Regulation EC/1049/2001.

"In accordance with the Bank's Transparency Policy (http://www.eib.org/publications/publication.asp?publ=152), the review will include a public consultation process," according to the notice posted on the EIB web site.

The EIB further noted, "In case the EU's Regulation on the Application of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to EC institutions and bodies (COM(2003)622) will be approved in the first quarter of 2005, the EIB will adapt the timing to take into consideration the outcome of the proposed application of the Regulation."

By Toby McIntosh

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