Union européenne
Transparence dans l'Union Européenne
Access Info travaille dans le but d'obtenir une plus grande transparence au sein de l'U.E à travers la promotion de lois plus strictes pour l'accès aux documents et veille, à la fois, à ce que les lois existantes soient correctement appliquées. Nous apprenons comment demander des informations à l'U.E à travers l'engagement dans des campagnes soutenant une amélioration de la transparence et, si besoin est, à travers des actions en justice pour obtenir l'accès à l'information.
Union Européenne: Règlement 1049/2001
À propos du Règlement / Problèmes / Proposition de Réformes
Access Info et l'Union Européenne
Demandes / Activisme / Litiges
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Kit d'outils pour l'accès à l'information de l'UE/ Service d'Assistance d'Access Info
Advocate General recommends that European Court of Justice dismiss challenge by Council of the EU against pro-transparency ruling
Luxembourg/Madrid, 16 May 2013 – In the penultimate stage of Access Info's court case for full access to a document relating to reform of the EU's access to documents rules, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has issued a legal opinion which advises the Court to dismiss the legal challenge brought by the Council of the EU against the March 2011 decision by the first instance General Court that the Council should provide Access Info Europe with the requested document.
The case goes back to request made by Access Info Europe in December 2008 for a document relating to reform of the EU's transparency rules (Regulation 1049/2001). The Council of the EU provided Access Info Europe with the document containing Member State proposals for reform, but with the names of the countries deleted, so it was impossible to know who was putting forward which proposal.
Transparency of the European Central Bank on the Financial Crisis
Access Info Europe applies to join key case at European Court of Justice
Madrid, 6 May 2012 – Access Info Europe has applied to the European Court of Justice to intervene in a case which is of great importance to the European public in the context of the financial crisis: the case is about whether we have a right to know what key EU bodies, such as the European Central Bank, know about the financial health of Eurozone Member States.
In a letter to the Court sent on 6 May 2013, Access Info Europe asked for leave to intervene in the case of Gabi Thesing and Bloomberg Finance vs. European Central Bank. The case dates back to 2010 when a journalist working for the Bloomberg news agency asked the European Central Bank for two specific internal documents which analysed the state of Greece's debt in 2009.
The documents allegedly contain information showing that the ECB knew Greece was hiding its debt before it all came to light when Greece took its first bailout in 2010. The question arises whether the ECB knew about this hidden debt, and if so, why were steps not taken sooner to avert the need for Greece to request a bailout.
Worrying steps taken in access to information law in Hungary
Two weeks ago, the Hungarian parliament passed in record time, changes to the Freedom of Information Law, known as Law CXII of 2011. Until now, the law had obliged Hungarian institutions to proactively publish information in their possession and respond to information requests from the public. However, the changes passed would limit the scope of access to public information in Hungary, a step back that has been criticised by Hungarian civil society and that worries Access Info Europe.
In March 2013, the parliament in Budapest modified the "Media Law", damaging the right of a free press. The Law gives the Prime Minister the power to choose the chief of the Media Council; a worrying step back in the areas of press freedom, democratic values as well as the independence of this supervisory body that has the power to remove operating licences and close media outlets. It is known as the "Gagging Law" having been modified in 2011 and has since been criticised by the European Commission and Parliament.
New Guide on Access to EU Documents
Madrid, May 9, 2013 – To celebrate Europe Day, Access Info is launching a citizen-friendly Guide on Access to EU Documents and is calling on members of the public and civil society organisations to exercise their rights and file access to documents requests.
The EU has recognised a fundamental right of access to EU documents, but the EU's freedom of information law – which goes by the catchy title of 'Regulation 1049/2001' – remains underused by the population at large. The new guide demystifies the process of asking for EU documents explaining step by step how to make a request.
Access Info hopes the guide will encourage citizens to exercise their right to ask, and also to defend that right before the European Ombudsman in cases where full information is not provided.
Click to download a copy of the Guide on Access to EU Documents.
"I don't want to be rich, I want to be happy"
The Voices of EU Citizens Presented in Brussels
Madrid/Brussels, April 24, 2013 — Access Info Europe today called on the European Union to make the “European Year of Citizens” a reality by removing obstacles to participation in Brussels decision making, in particular by increasing levels of EU transparency.
*A member of the Spanish public speaking in this video which captures the voices of European Citizens facing up to the current financial crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvpVWmJsMzU
Citizens' Report (EN) 
Citizens' Report (FR)
Citizens' Report (ES)
Presenting “The Citizens’ Report: Participation, Ethics and Transparency – What citizens want from Brussels”, the culmination of a year of consultations with members of the public across Europe, Access Info Europe said its research shows that citizens are concerned about lack of transparency, weak ethics regulation and low levels of citizen participation in the European Union.
European poll reveals widespread concern about EU Transparency
Vast majority of people want more transparency, ethics and lobbying regulation
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.
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.
The results come at the beginning of the European Year of Citizens, which aims to stimulate dialogue between governments and society, and thereby better engage citizens in debates and decisions that affect them.
Natacha Cingotti from Friends of the Earth Europe said: “The results of this poll should be a wake-up call for European decision-makers. Citizens are clearly asking for compulsory regulation for lobbying. The Parliament should insist that this happens by making the Transparency Register mandatory. This poll also signals that the poor enforcement of the MEP code of conduct negatively affects citizens’ confidence. Strict implementation and monitoring of MEPs’ second jobs are urgently needed to avoid conflicts of interest.”
4 out of 5 people polled (80%) said they feel less confident that an MEP represents the best interests of citizens if they also work for a lobby group or a private company. French respondents (76%) felt the most strongly that MEPs should not be allowed to work for a lobby group or a private company while they are serving as elected representatives.
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