Madrid, 16 June 2025 – Access Info Europe today announces the launch of the Helen Darbishire Award which celebrates those who have used their right to information to have a positive impact on society. The Helen Darbishire Award (previously the Access Info Impact Award) recognises those who have significantly leveraged their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, anti-corruption, and/or government accountability. By celebrating exemplary achievements of civil society advocates, campaigners, journalists, academics and practitioners across Europe, the award aims to highlight the importance of the right to information and inspire others to utilise this powerful tool. Through

17 January 2025 -  Access Info and Open Knowledge France today release recommendations on how to align the French Access to Documents Law with international standards. Access to documents is recognised as a constitutional guarantee in France and is governed by the Code of Relations between the Public and the Administration (CRPA). Despite its constitutional status, the current legal framework regulating this right falls significantly short of the benchmarks established by the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents (Tromsø Convention) and other international best practices. Key Gaps Identified in the CRPA A detailed analysis, carried out

Madrid, 07 November 2024 – Access Info, in collaboration with national partners, has published comprehensive recommendations to strengthen access to information laws in Greece and Moldova, ensuring alignment with global standards, including the Council of Europe’s Tromsø Convention on Access to Official Documents. This analysis, part of the Access to Information Network Project, was conducted in partnership with Vouliwatch in Greece and Lawyers for Human Rights in Moldova. It assesses each nation’s legal framework against international best practices on access to information and the benchmarks established by the Tromsø Convention. "Our analysis highlights the contrast between Moldova and Greece

Madrid – 28 October 2024 – Today, Access Info releases recommendations aimed at EU institutions, bodies, and agencies on how to improve the practical implementation of the public's right of access to EU documents. Access to EU documents is a fundamental right governed by Regulation 1049/2001, which was designed to give the “fullest possible effect” to this right. Despite a fairly robust legal framework, many requesters still face significant challenges when attempting to access documents from EU bodies in practice. To address these challenges, Access Info has collaborated with civil society organisations, academics, and legal experts to develop a

It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that Access Info shares the passing of our Executive Director and founder, Helen Darbishire, on Friday 18th October. Helen was an extraordinary leader, colleague, and friend, whose commitment to Access Info and this community will be remembered by all who had the privilege of working alongside her. Helen moved to Madrid in 2006, where she established Access Info. Since then, both she and the organisation have become global references for the promotion and protection of the right to information, Open Government, the fight against corruption and the defence of human rights in

Madrid, 27 September 2024 –  Lighthouse Reports has been awarded the first-ever Access Info Impact Award for its leadership in the groundbreaking ‘Suspicion Machines’ investigation, which uncovered discriminatory algorithmic practices across Europe. Lighthouse Reports spearheaded the collaborative investigation series Suspicion Machines, which revealed how machine learning algorithms used by welfare systems to detect fraud and errors were disproportionately targeting individuals based on ethnicity and gender.  Through a series of freedom of information requests, the investigation shed light on the widespread use of these opaque systems in six European countries, starting in the Netherlands and expanding to Denmark, France, Serbia,