Media
Media Contact Information
Journalists should contact Access Info's Executive Director, Helen Darbishire by clicking here or by mobile phone on +34 667685319
Media enquiries can also addressed to our campaigns office by clicking here or by telephoning the office during working hours (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 7 pm Central European Time): + 34 91 365 2634.
Below you will find recent statements and press releases from Access Info, organised in chronological order by year.
Press Releases 2013
El Ministerio de Agricultura mantiene en secreto la ubicación de los campos comerciales transgénicos
Amigos de la Tierra y Access Info Europe recurren para exigir el cumplimiento de la normativa europea
Madrid, 14 de marzo de 2013 – Amigos de la Tierra y Access Info Europe han presentado un recurso ante el Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente exigiendo que cumpla con las normas europeas de transparencia [1] y que publique los datos exactos sobre la ubicación de los campos de cultivos comerciales transgénicos.
La Coalición Pro Acceso pide una mejora integral del proyecto de Ley de Transparencia
Madrid, 19 de febrero de 2013 - La Coalición Pro Acceso exige que no se excluya a la sociedad civil del proceso legislativo y hace un llamamiento a realizar una mejora integral del proyecto de Ley de Transparencia, enumerando 5 puntos básicos que debieran ser recogidos en el texto final de la ley.
El Gobierno esquiva incluir a los partidos en la Ley de Transparencia
Madrid, 13 de febrero de 2013 - El Presidente del Gobierno, Mariano Rajoy, ha respondido esta mañana en sesión plenaria del Congreso de los Diputados a pregunta del grupo UPyD que va a “promover que los criterios de la Ley de Transparencia se apliquen a los partidos políticos”. Las organizaciones impulsoras de Tuderechoasaber.es, Access Info Europe y la Fundación Ciudadana Civio, consideramos que esta nueva postura constituye una buena noticia, pero no es lo suficientemente concreta ni ambiciosa.
European poll reveals widespread concern about EU Transparency
Vast majority of people want more lobbying regulation, ethics and access
to information
Brussels, January 31, 2013 – A majority of people across Europe are concerned about ethics and lobbying in European Union policy-making, and want better regulation of lobbyists, as well as increased transparency of the EU, according to a new opinion poll. [1] The poll conducted by TNS opinion, and completed by over 6,000 people in six European countries, reveals that three quarters (73%) of respondents are concerned that lobbyists representing the business sector have too much influence on EU decisions. 80% of those surveyed believe there should be mandatory regulation of lobbying to ensure a balanced participation of different interests in decision-making.
Press Releases 2012
Access Info Europe to pay €3000 for asking about corruption in Spain
Madrid 24 October 2012 – Access Info Europe has been ordered to pay €3000 to the Spanish government for asking what it is doing to fight against corruption according to a decision of the Spanish Supreme Court which has ruled that the NGO has not right to ask for such information. The decision closes a court case based on a information request submitted by an Access Info Europe board member in 2007. Read more...
Eurovegas: Lack of transparency leading to new financial fiascos in Spanish construction sector warns Access Info Europe
Madrid, 6 September 2012 – Transparency specialists Access Info Europe today denounced the tight secrecy surrounding the major casino construction project, Eurovegas, following today’s media reports that it will be built in Alcorcón, on the outskirts of Madrid. Read more...
Nuevo paso en la tramitación opaca de la Ley de Transparencia
Madrid, 30 July 2012 – AEl Consejo de Ministros aprobó el viernes 27 de julio, el proyecto de Ley de Transparencia, Acceso a la Información Pública y Buen Gobierno que se someterá próximamente a debate parlamentario en el Congreso, previa aprobación definitiva. El texto del proyecto de ley, anteriormente expuesto a procesos de consulta, ha sido modificado pero la versión actual no ha sido publicada. Access Info desconoce si el texto actual se ajusta a las repetidas críticas realizadas desde la sociedad civil y la OSCE, y a las recomendaciones ciudadanas, dado que tampoco han sido publicadas las 3.700 aportaciones de la consulta pública. Read more...
European discussions on revision of access to documents rules to render institutions opaque
Brussels/Madrid, 6 June 2012 – A key European transparency law is under threat, according to environmental and transparency organisations. In a letter to the European Council, civil society warn that the current state of negotiations around the access to documents regulation could make it even more difficult for civil society to participate in EU decision making. Any changes to the current regulation should be in line with the European Treaties and international standards. The text put forward by the Danish Presidency – which forms the basis of the negotiations - is of such concern, that in a rare move even some of the ministers involved in negotiations have publicly criticised it. Read more...
Eurovegas: A megaproject betting on secrecy
Madrid, 30 May 2012 –The worrying lack of information about the urban megaconstruction project designed for gambling, entertainment and hosting events was criticised today in a detailed report written by the civil society platform “Eurovegas NO”, which is accusing the Spanish government of violating national and European laws on access to information and public participation. The report “Eurovegas: a megaproject betting on secrecy” provides concrete examples of the opacity that has shrouded the tender process behind this megaproject, which affects urban planning as well as economic, social and fiscal policies which have a direct impact on the public. Read more...
New collection of rendition data brings together records of hundreds of victims and shows involvement of 45 countries
Madrid/London, 22 May 2012 - A global repository of information on rendition and secret detention was launched yesterday (21 May) with a collection of records concerning hundreds of victims and 6500 rendition flights. Extensive data on rendition flights collected by Access Info Europe forms a substantial part of the information being launched by The Rendition Project. The project, led by UK academics and human rights organization Reprieve, is the largest of its kind and collates all information about rendition currently in the public domain. All of the flight data released using access to information laws across Europe and North America has been made available on the website in original formats, including information released to Access Info from nine countries in the last six months. Read more...
Press Releases 2011
German Civil Society website makes it easier to ask for government information
Madrid/Berlin, Friday 1 August 2011 - A coalition of German and international access to information organisations, which includes Access Info Europe, today launched a portal for submitting information requests to the German government.
The German Freedom of Information law came into force in 2006, but the majority of German citizens are still not aware of their right to access information held by public authorities, nor the procedures for doing so.
Developed by the Open Knowledge Foundation Germany, the new internet portal “Frag den Staat” (“Ask the State”, website in German) aims to serve as a central online hub for requests addressed to German federal ministries and all federal public bodies. Read more...
Council of the EU fights Open Decision-making - Greece, UK & other Member States to intervene in favour of secrecy
Madrid, 27 June 2011 – The Council of the European Union is appealing against a March 2011 General Court (Court of Justice) ruling that promised to open Brussels law making up to proper scrutiny and participation by members of the European public.
Madrid, 27 June 2011 – The Council of the European Union is appealing against a March 2011 General Court (Court of Justice) ruling that promised to open Brussels law making up to proper scrutiny and participation by members of the European public.
A number of member states are reported to be considering joining this effort to keep EU decision making behind closed doors. Specifically the Council wants to deny European citizens the right to know the positions their governments are taking when negotiating EU regulations, which now affect as much as two thirds of national law. Read more...
A number of member states are reported to be considering joining this effort to keep EU decision making behind closed doors. Specifically the Council wants to deny European citizens the right to know the positions their governments are taking when negotiating EU regulations, which now affect as much as two thirds of national law. Read more...
Council of Europe and member states urged to act on two-year old promise to review anti-terror laws
Madrid, 10 June 2011 - Human rights, media and journalists’ organisations from across Europe today wrote to the Council of Europe urging it to press member states to act on a promise made in May 2009 to review anti-terror laws for their negative impact on freedom of expression and access to information. Read more...
Spain: Government promises access to information law before summer - Current draft would not guarantee greater transparency
Madrid, 22 June 2011 - Responding to the demands of the “15 May” movement, the Spanish government on 21 June confirmed that it will present an access to information law to the parliament.
Access Info Europe, an NGO specialising in government transparency, welcomed this move, but noted that the current draft law has been severely criticised by national and international experts for falling below the Council of Europe minimum standards. Read more...
Waiting for transparency in Luxembourg: Eleven Years and Counting
Madrid, 20 June 2011 – Today marks exactly eleven years since Luxembourg's “freedom of access to information” law was first proposed, but the law has not yet been adopted. Luxembourg is one of the only countries in the European Union (and the wider Council of Europe region) not to have such a law. Read more...
Insufficient statistics undermine EU's claim that retention of personal data is effective in fighting crime
18 April 2011, Madrid - There are serious risks associated with the massive invasion of perosnal privacy required by the EU's 2006 Data Retention Directive whilst there is no strong evidence that is an effective instrument against crime according to the leaked version of an EU report to be lauched officially today. Read more...
General Court of the European Union rules refusal illegitimate - Access Info wins vs. EU Council
22 March 2011, Brussels/Madrid - The General Court of the European Union today found that the Council of the EU wrongly refused to disclose the identity of countries taking positions on reform of the EU’s access to documents rules. Read more...
16 of 27 Member States refuse to provide information on EU transparency negotiations
21 March, Brussels/Madrid - European citizens can’t find out from either Brussels or from national governments which countries are lobbying against EU transparency, according to a report launched by the NGO Access Info Europe this week. Read more...
Open Cyprus Project finds massive violations of public’s right to know in largest access to information monitoring in Cyprus
24 February, Nicosia - With a level of 75% of administrative silence in response to information requests, public bodies across the island are violating the public’s fundamental right to know according to the Open Cyprus Project. Launching a public consultation on the findings and recommendations that will run to 10 June, the Open Cyprus Project called for journalists, civil society organisations, public officials and members of the public to give their opinions on the right to know via the website: www.accessinfocyprus.eu
Global Call for MEPs to Protect the Transparency of the European Union
Over 180 organisations, journalists and campaigners call for MEPs to reject measures to limit public access to information
28 January, Brussels/London/Madrid - 131 non-governmental organisations along with 56 investigative journalists, academics, and access to information campaigners from 48 countries in Europe and beyond are calling on Members of the European Parliament to act urgently to protect EU transparency rules. The call comes as the European Union engages in a review of its access to documents regulation that could result in freedom of information being severely curtailed across Europe. 
Campaign against narrowing of EU Access to Documents Rules - Sign the open letter to MEPs
18 January 2011, Madrid - 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.
Communiqués de Presse 2010
Pour voir les communiqués de Presse en Espagnol ou en Anglais, sélectionner la langue au-dessus.
Communiqués de Presse 2009
Les citoyens face aux demandes de documents de l’UE : comment faire? Consignes internes et pratiques des DG font tout pour décourager l’accès aux documents de l’UE
Bruxelles 19 novembre 2009, Access Info et L’Observatoire de l’Europe Industrielle rencontreront la DG Commerce, et à cette occasion évoqueront avec ses responsables les consignes controversées qui y ont cours quant à l’accès aux documents. Ces consignes, qui ont fait l’objet d’une fuite en avril, ont été amendées en juin suite aux protestations de la société civile. Lire la suite...
Communiqués de Presse 2008
30e Anniversaire de la loi française sur l’accès aux documents administratifs. Est le gouvernement vraiment transparent ?
Paris, 17 July 2008 - L’organisation non-gouvernemental Access Info Europe a mené hier et ce aujourd’hui une action publique devants les métros Odéon à Parie à l’occasion de 30e anniversaire de la loi française sur l’accès aux documents administratifs. Lire la suite...
