Campaign against narrowing of EU Access to Documents Rules

Call for signatures for open letter to Members of European Parliament

Madrid, 18 January 2011 - Access Info Europe this week called for signatures for an open letter to Members of the European Parliament as part of its campaign to stop narrowing of the EU's rules on access to documents, Regulation 1049/2001.

Concerns about the reforms initially proposed by the EU Commission in 2008 include:
• Narrower definition of “document”
• Exclusion of databases
• Veto Rights for EU Member States
• Blanket Exception for Legal Advice
• Extended time for EU bodies to process appeals
• Personal data protection not subject to public interest test

The letter, developed as part of a joint campaign with CSOs Client Earth and Greenpeace, has already been signed by over 40 civil society groups from around the world. If you would like to sign the letter as an individual or an organisation, please write to Access Info by clicking here.

"EU transparency is important to civil society and individuals around the world," commented campaign coordinator Pamela Bartlett. "This letter to MEPs is open to signature by NGOs from any country."

MEPs are expected to discuss the reform of the EU's Regulation on Access to Documents in early February.

For more information on Access Info Europe's campaigns promoting a transparent and participatory European Union, click here

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For more information please contact:

Pam Bartlett Quintanilla, Access Info Europe

pam@access-info.org

+34 91 366 5344