Blog – Access Info Europe

Finalists Announced for the Helen Darbishire Award 2025

Rachel Hanna2025-07-28T15:27:50+02:00

Madrid, 25th July 2025 – Access Info Europe announces three finalists for this year's Helen Darbishire Award. Now in its second year, the award aims to honour individuals and organisations that have effectively used their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, democracy, or anti-corruption efforts. Following a competitive round of applications from across Europe, the Evaluation Committee has selected three outstanding finalists. Finalist: The Forever Lobbying Project Category: Environmental protection Submitted by: Stéphane Horel (Le Monde) The Forever Lobbying Project is a groundbreaking cross-border investigation into the lobbying and disinformation efforts of the PFAS (“forever chemicals”)

Finalists Announced for the Helen Darbishire Award 2025Rachel Hanna2025-07-28T15:27:50+02:00

Legal Recommendations to Strengthen Access to Information in the Netherlands

Rachel Hanna2025-07-07T13:06:43+02:00

Madrid, 7 July 2025 – Today Access Info Europe, in collaboration with SPOON, publishes a set of legal recommendations aimed at strengthening the Netherlands' Open Government Act (OGA) and aligning it with international transparency standards. The Netherlands has recently taken significant steps to strengthen its legal framework on access to information. On 1 May 2022, the Open Government Act (OGA) entered into force, replacing earlier legislation and establishing clearer obligations for public authorities, with a strong emphasis on proactive disclosure. Additionally, enhancing the accessibility and organisation of public sector information remains a priority under the Netherlands’ Fifth Open Government National

Legal Recommendations to Strengthen Access to Information in the NetherlandsRachel Hanna2025-07-07T13:06:43+02:00

Call for nominations for the Helen Darbishire Award

Rachel Hanna2025-06-20T16:56:03+02:00

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

Call for nominations for the Helen Darbishire AwardRachel Hanna2025-06-20T16:56:03+02:00

Spanish Court Orders Government to Disclose UNCAC Self-Assessment Documents

Rachel Hanna2025-06-19T11:56:35+02:00

02 June 2025 - A Spanish court has ruled that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation was wrong to refuse Access Info’s request for documents related to Spain’s self-assessment of its implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Spain is currently participating in the second cycle of the UNCAC review process. As part of this process, countries must complete a self-assessment questionnaire on how they are complying with the UNCAC. This questionnaire then forms the foundation of a peer review by two other states, culminating in a final review report. In terms of transparency,

Spanish Court Orders Government to Disclose UNCAC Self-Assessment DocumentsRachel Hanna2025-06-19T11:56:35+02:00

Pfizergate: EU Court Rules Commission in Violation of Transparency Law Over von der Leyen–Pfizer Texts

Rachel Hanna2025-05-14T16:43:34+02:00

14 May 2025 – The General Court of the European Union has annulled the European Commission decision to refuse access to text messages relating to COVID-19 vaccine negotiations, stating that doing so violated EU access to documents law and breached the principle of good administration. In early 2021, it was revealed that President von der Leyen had exchanged text messages with Pfizer CEO during negotiations for COVID-19 vaccine procurement. Following this, a journalist from The New York Times submitted a request for access to these messages under the EU's access to documents law (Regulation 1049/2001). According to the Commission's

Pfizergate: EU Court Rules Commission in Violation of Transparency Law Over von der Leyen–Pfizer TextsRachel Hanna2025-05-14T16:43:34+02:00

Civil Society Coalition Calls on European Ombudsman to Defend Transparency and the Right of Access to EU Documents

Rachel Hanna2025-05-08T18:19:29+02:00

08 May 2025 - Access Info Europe, alongside a coalition of transparency and accountability organisations, has written to newly elected European Ombudsman Ms. Anjinho urging action to address the “systematic erosion of transparency standards and practices within the EU institutions.” In a joint letter, the coalition congratulated Ms. Anjinho on her election and welcomed her leadership at a pivotal moment for the future of EU democracy. They called on her to use the powers of her office to ensure that transparency is “not merely a theoretical principle, but is implemented by the institutions in practice.” The coalition - which

Civil Society Coalition Calls on European Ombudsman to Defend Transparency and the Right of Access to EU DocumentsRachel Hanna2025-05-08T18:19:29+02:00

Joint Legal Challenge Filed Against European Commission’s New Access to Documents Rules

Rachel Hanna2025-03-25T11:09:49+01:00

25 March 2025 - Access Info brings legal challenge against European Commission arguing that its new access to documents rules violate the Charter, the TFEU, and Regulation 1049/2001. Access Info, together with Emilio de Capitani and Päivi Leino-Sandberg, has brought a direct legal challenge before the General Court of the European Union, arguing that various provisions of the European Commission’s revised internal rules on access to documents violate the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (the Charter), the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and Regulation 1049/2001. Led by lawyers Rainer Hable, Onno Brouwer, Alvaro Pliego Selie, and

Joint Legal Challenge Filed Against European Commission’s New Access to Documents RulesRachel Hanna2025-03-25T11:09:49+01:00

Legal Recommendations to Strengthen Access to Documents in France

Rachel Hanna2025-01-17T12:44:42+01:00

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

Legal Recommendations to Strengthen Access to Documents in FranceRachel Hanna2025-01-17T12:44:42+01:00

Strengthening Transparency: New Roadmap for Greece and Moldova to Align Access to Information Laws with Global Standards

Rachel Hanna2024-11-08T11:39:29+01:00

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

Strengthening Transparency: New Roadmap for Greece and Moldova to Align Access to Information Laws with Global StandardsRachel Hanna2024-11-08T11:39:29+01:00

Making Access to EU Documents a Reality: Access Info Publishes Key Recommendations

Rachel Hanna2024-10-28T12:44:06+01:00

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

Making Access to EU Documents a Reality: Access Info Publishes Key RecommendationsRachel Hanna2024-10-28T12:44:06+01:00