4 Nov 2022

MPs’ expenses should be disclosed in response to information requests: Civil Society Brief to the European Court of Human Rights

2022-11-04T15:28:24+01:00

Photo: The French Assememblée Nationale in Paris, and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Strasbourg, 3 November 2022 - Access Info, ARTICLE 19, and ten access to information organisations from across Europe have submitted a brief to the European Court of Human Rights in a case against France demonstrating that information about expenses by members of parliament (MPs) falls under the scope of access to information laws and should be disclosed. Gathering comparative law and practice from across Europe, the third-party intervention – also known as an “amicus curiae” or friend of the court brief – was

MPs’ expenses should be disclosed in response to information requests: Civil Society Brief to the European Court of Human Rights2022-11-04T15:28:24+01:00
17 Oct 2022

Malta: Civil society calls for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia on fifth anniversary of her assassination

2022-10-17T16:32:52+02:00

Valletta, 16 October 2022 – Access Info is one of 36 freedom of expression and information groups which have denounced the Maltese government's lack of ambition and transparency in press freedom reforms and renewed calls for full justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia. The full statement reads as follows: Five years ago today, investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally assassinated in a car bomb attack in Malta. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues. Together with them, we continue to fight for full justice. Today is a day to remember and celebrate her fearless journalism, the far-reaching impact of

Malta: Civil society calls for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia on fifth anniversary of her assassination2022-10-17T16:32:52+02:00
15 Dec 2021

Eight leading civil society organisations banned from UN anti-corruption conference due to objections by Turkey

2021-12-15T17:25:00+01:00

Sharm El-Sheikh - Transparency International, Access Info Europe, The Good Lobby, and the UNCAC Coalition strongly condemn the exclusion of prominent civil society organisations from participating in the 9th session of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of the States Parties (CoSP), currently underway in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The CoSP plenary on the morning of 15 December 2021 failed to overturn the unfounded objections by the Turkish government. Many countries from the European Union and broader Europe, Canada, the US and other regions spoke out in support of the affected NGOs. The barred organisations include Access Info Europe (Spain),

Eight leading civil society organisations banned from UN anti-corruption conference due to objections by Turkey2021-12-15T17:25:00+01:00
11 May 2021

Stop the harassment of human rights activists in Russia

2021-05-11T17:33:18+02:00

Madrid, 11 May 2021 – Access Info Europe and 97 civil society organisations and individuals today expressed concern about the Russian authorities' persecution and harassment of Ivan Pavlov, freedom of information advocate and lawyer defending opposition leader Aleksei Navalny's Anticorruption Foundation.

Stop the harassment of human rights activists in Russia2021-05-11T17:33:18+02:00
19 Apr 2021

EU General Court reduces the legal costs claimed by Frontex against transparency activists

2021-04-19T17:00:47+02:00

Madrid, 19 April 2021 – Access Info Europe today gave a cautious welcome to the ruling of the General Court of the European Union that Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, had overcharged when it issued a legal bill of €23,700 to two transparency activists after they lost a court case, and that this amount should be reduced to €10,520.

EU General Court reduces the legal costs claimed by Frontex against transparency activists2021-04-19T17:00:47+02:00
21 Jul 2020

Civil Society takes legal challenge to Spain’s Supreme Court over granting of €30 million to Morocco for migration control

2021-04-01T14:35:15+02:00

Madrid/Seville, 20 July 2020 – Human rights organisations Access Info Europe and Andalucía Acoge, with legal support from Gentium and research support from Profundo, today announced the submission of legal arguments to the Spanish Supreme Court in a case challenging the granting of €30 million from Spain’s Contingency Fund to the Moroccan authorities for the control of migration towards Spain.

Civil Society takes legal challenge to Spain’s Supreme Court over granting of €30 million to Morocco for migration control2021-04-01T14:35:15+02:00
17 Jul 2020

Publishing open SDG data is key to monitor the progress towards the Agenda 2030

2022-10-26T12:34:40+02:00

Madrid, 17 July 2020 – Having access to quality data is essential if governments are to measure the progress towards the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, and if civil society and the public are to be able to track progress. Recent research conducted by Access Info in seven European countries, published in the report “Opening Up SDG 5: What do we know about Gender Equality?” (March 2020), found, however, that although most of the surveyed countries had set up a reporting platform or were publishing SDG data online, the data was often outdated, hard to reuse, or

Publishing open SDG data is key to monitor the progress towards the Agenda 20302022-10-26T12:34:40+02:00
25 Jun 2020

The urgent need for data collection on gender equality in Europe

2022-10-26T12:39:14+02:00

Madrid, 25 June 2020 –  The lack of publication of SDG data on Gender Equality in Europe is partly down to many countries not having laws requiring it to be collected, according to participants in a webinar on “Opening Up SDG 5” held by Access Info Europe on 18 June 2020. As a result, civil society organisations don’t have the data to engage in evidence-based policy debates. Access Info found in a recent survey which looked into the publication of SDG data that, on average, only 57% of gender equality data was published across Europe. Discussing the reasons behind

The urgent need for data collection on gender equality in Europe2022-10-26T12:39:14+02:00
10 Jun 2020

EU urged to end SLAPPs: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation

2020-06-10T19:01:09+02:00

Madrid, 9 June 2020 – Access Info Europe today joined 119 NGOs from across Europe in calling on the European Union to protect freedom of expression and information by acting to end the use of gag lawsuits to harass and silence investigative journalists and public interest defenders. In an open letter, the organisations expressed their concern about SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation), which are brought by powerful actors intending to intimidate and prevent watchdogs such as journalists, activists, trades unions, media, and civil society organisations, from holding them accountable. The organisations warned about the harmful effects of this type

EU urged to end SLAPPs: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation2020-06-10T19:01:09+02:00
16 Apr 2020

EU urged to protect rule of law during coronavirus states of emergency

2020-04-27T18:01:18+02:00

Madrid, 16 April 2020 – Access Info Europe today joined 80 MEPs and civil society organisations in calling on the European Union to address restrictions on the rule of law and human rights, including freedom of expression and information, being introduced via coronavirus pandemic emergency measures. In an open letter sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel, the signatories warn of the misuse of the coronavirus crisis to silence dissent, limit freedom of expression, marginalise civil society, and erode democratic values. The letter also calls on the EU to ensure that the

EU urged to protect rule of law during coronavirus states of emergency2020-04-27T18:01:18+02:00