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9 March 2012
More than 30 groups have signed a March 8 letter initiated by Access Info Europe to influence the outcome of behind-the-scenes discussions about access to documents in the European Union.
The Danish Presidency of the European Union has circulated a…
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10 February 2012
By Staffan Dahllöf
Dahllöf is co-editor of Wobbing Europe, where this article first appeared.
The Danish EU-presidency has taken unusual steps to promote adoption of new access rules: Member countries have been summoned to conflict talks, before there is an…
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15 December 2011
The European Parliament Dec. 15 voted 394-197, with 35 abstentions, to approve proposals to improve the EU’s access to documents rules.
The 2-1 majority action advances the process to the stage of difficult negotiations with the EU Commission and EU…
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12 December 2011
The European Commission Dec. 12 proposed revisions to its 2003 directive on public sector information intended to encourage European governments to make more data available to the public.
See the announcement and explanatory information.
Other new elements of the proposal,…
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9 December 2011
With the European Parliament scheduled to vote Dec. 15 on a package of transparency reforms, three civil society groups are seeking to ensure passage with a letter-writing campaign.
The legislation is expected to pass, but more roadblocks exist.
The largest group…
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25 November 2011
A committee of the European parliament Nov. 23 approved a proposal to improve access to European Union documents.
The amendments from the Civil Liberties Committee will be put to a plenary vote in December, according to the committee’s announcement, which…
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21 October 2011
A committee of the European Union Parliament has modified the scope of the access to documents Regulation 1049/2001 to slightly expand its scope.
In addition, there are some signs that the larger debate over access to EU documents is being…
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28 September 2011
A web portal to facilitate public information requests to the European Union was unveiled Sept. 28 by the pro-transparency human rights group Access Info Europe.
AsktheEU.org “is designed to radically simplify the process by which the public puts requests to…
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9 September 2011
Access Info Europe is challenging European Union countries to not support the Council of the European Union’s appeal against the European General Court’s ruling that the names of the countries making legislative proposals should be disclosed.
Member states have until…
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29 August 2011
The European Commission’s annual report on access to documents makes “very pitiful reading,” according to the public interest group Statewatch.
The Report from the Commission on the application in 2010 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European…
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15 July 2011
“The 27 EU-ambassadors in Brussels have agreed to make internal security rules for information binding law in the member countries,” according to an article in Wobbing Europe by Staffan Dahllöf.
In addition, the 15 top members of the European Parliament…
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27 June 2011
The European Parliament June 22 decided to surrender a report on the abuse of payments made to members of parliament.
The so-called Galvin report was the subject of a court case recently decided in favor of the Irish lawyer who…
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10 June 2011
The General Court of the European Union June 7 ruled that the European Parliament should not have denied access to a sensitive report on allowances paid to parliamentarians.
The case was brought by Irish lawyer, Ciarán Toland, who sought access…
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27 May 2011
The European Union Council has voted to appeal a March court ruling that mandated disclosure of a document summarizing member countries’ positions on reform of the EU’s access to information rules (See previous FreedomInfo.org report.)
The May decision apparently was…
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21 April 2011
Pro-transparency members of the European Parliament last week called for an improved European Union disclosure policy, continuing to fuel a now long-running schism with the European Commission and Council.
Action by a parliamentary committee on its proposals to change the…
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25 March 2011
The European Data Protection Supervisor March 24 issued a “background paper” on public access to documents containing personal data, to serve as guidance for EU institutions.
“The paper explains the updated EDPS position on the matter following the ruling of…
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23 March 2011
The Council of the European Union was not justified in refusing to disclose the identities of countries taking positions on reform of the European Union’s access to information rules, the General Court of the EU has decided.
The Court found that…
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10 March 2011
The European Commission’s recent indication that in March it will propose a limited amendment to the European Union’s regulation on public access to EU documents has drawn sharp criticism from a leading watchdog group.
The Commission’s latest Work Programme for…
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25 February 2011
European Union: A new report says the average availability of online public services in the EU went up from 69% to 82% from 2009 to 2010.
Declaration: Activists gathered at the World Social Forum’s Assembly on the Right to Communication…
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19 January 2011
The European Union Parliament should amend the European Commission’s proposed amendments to Regulation (EC) 1049/2001 regarding access to documents held by EU institutions, according to a letter signed by more than 100 civil society groups, circulated by Access Info Europe.…
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14 January 2011
European Union: New Statewatch Analysis: Case Law Summary: EU access to documents Regulation (142 pages, small pdf). Prepared by Steve Peers, Professor of Law, University of Essex.
United States: Transparency groups announce plans for Freedom of Information Day March 16…
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29 September 2010
European Ombudsman P. Nikiforos Diamandouros “called on the EU administration to be as transparent and citizen-friendly as possible,” according to a press release about his Sept. 28 speech in Brussels.
“Only if European citizens feel that the EU administration is…
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19 November 2009
Brussels, Belgium — In April 2009, an internal guide from the EU Directorate General (DG) for Trade revealed that public officials were being given tips on how not to record information and how to avoid providing documents to the public. Access…
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14 April 2009
Társaság a Szabadságjogokért v. Hungary a Landmark Decision in the Right to Know
Strasbourg, France — In a landmark decision today, the European Court of Human Rights of the Council of Europe found in favor of Társaság a Szabadságjogokért, the Hungarian Civil…
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19 April 2007
The European Commission yesterday published a Green Paper and launched a new public consultation process to reform existing rules on public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission records. This action represents an important step in the European Transparency Initiative,…
