Blog – Access Info Europe

Open Olympics 2026 Wins Helen Darbishire Award

Marta Morcuende2026-10-16T14:11:05+02:00

Madrid, 13 October 2026 – Access Info Europe is delighted to announce Open Olympics 2026, a civic initiative coordinated by Italian organisation Libera, as the winner of the Helen Darbishire Award 2026. Open Olympics 2026 is a campaign and a civic network that brings together civil society organisations, environmental groups and local communities to demand transparency and accountability around the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The initiative used the right of access to information to scrutinise billions of euros in public spending, monitor infrastructure projects and investigate the environmental and social consequences of the Games, demonstrating how collective

Open Olympics 2026 Wins Helen Darbishire AwardMarta Morcuende2026-10-16T14:11:05+02:00

Finalists Announced for the Helen Darbishire Award 2026

Marta Morcuende2026-10-07T17:52:57+02:00

Madrid, 5 October 2026 – Access Info Europe is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2026 Helen Darbishire Award, selected from 26 submissions from across Europe. The high quality and diversity of this year’s submissions made the selection particularly challenging, and led the Evaluation Committee to select six finalists. Together, they demonstrate the range and impact of work using the right of access to information to advance human rights, the rule of law, transparency and government accountability, anti-corruption efforts, or environmental protection. Six projects showing how access to information can drive positive change Finalist: Exposing overpricing and unequal

Finalists Announced for the Helen Darbishire Award 2026Marta Morcuende2026-10-07T17:52:57+02:00

Access Info’s 20-Year Journey Defending the Right to Know

Marta Morcuende2026-09-28T12:00:15+02:00

28 SEPTEMBER – INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION Madrid, 28 September 2026 – On this International Day for Universal Access to Information, Access Info looks back on a journey that began 20 years ago. Established in 2006, Access Info has since worked relentlessly to strengthen people’s right of access to information. For two decades, Access Info has challenged the barriers that stand in the way of access to information and defended the right to know before public institutions and the courts, across Europe and at the EU level. The right to know is not only achieved by

Access Info’s 20-Year Journey Defending the Right to KnowMarta Morcuende2026-09-28T12:00:15+02:00

Spanish Civil Society Calls on Parliament to Address a Democratic Gap: Regulating Lobbying

Marta Morcuende2026-09-15T12:39:07+02:00

15 SEPTEMBER, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY Spanish Civil Society Calls on Parliament to Address a Democratic Gap: Regulating Lobbying The signatory organisations are calling for the validation of the Royal Decree-Law to regulate interest groups and its subsequent processing as a Bill to improve the text, incorporate new contributions and strengthen parliamentary consensus The text incorporates numerous amendments proposed by the different parliamentary groups Madrid, 15 September 2026. Coinciding with the celebration of the International Day of Democracy, 13 signatory organisations call on the parliamentary groups of the Spanish Congress of Deputies to support this Wednesday 16, the validation

Spanish Civil Society Calls on Parliament to Address a Democratic Gap: Regulating LobbyingMarta Morcuende2026-09-15T12:39:07+02:00

Food-Labelling Case Exposes Risks on EU Transparency Rules

Marta Morcuende2026-07-13T11:52:22+02:00

Brussels-Madrid, 13 July 2026 – Access Info Europe has lodged an appeal before the Court of Justice of the European Union in a case concerning public access to key legislative documents related to the revision of the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation. The appeal challenges a General Court order that dismissed Access Info's action as inadmissible and raises broader questions about the safeguards established by Regulation 1049/2001, the EU law governing public access to documents. The case concerns documents originally requested by foodwatch in 2023, and then again by Access Info in 2025, including the European Commission's Impact

Food-Labelling Case Exposes Risks on EU Transparency RulesMarta Morcuende2026-07-13T11:52:22+02:00

Helen Darbishire Award – Call for Applications and Nominations Now Open

Marta Morcuende2026-07-01T10:37:09+02:00

Madrid, 1 July 2026 – Access Info Europe is thrilled to announce a new edition of the Helen Darbishire Award, which celebrates those who use their right of access to information to have a positive impact on society. The Helen Darbishire Award recognises those who have significantly leveraged their right of access to information to advance human rights, the rule of law, transparency and government accountability, anti-corruption efforts, or environmental protection. 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 of access to information

Helen Darbishire Award – Call for Applications and Nominations Now OpenMarta Morcuende2026-07-01T10:37:09+02:00

Public scrutiny of secret Covid vaccine negotiations gets shot in the arm from EU adviser

Marta Morcuende2026-06-12T14:53:40+02:00

Courthouse News Service | 11/06/2026 English - Billions of euros, pandemic vaccine deals and years of secrecy collided again Thursday, as a top adviser to Europe’s highest court said the public should get a closer look at records tied to the European Union’s Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Read more...

Public scrutiny of secret Covid vaccine negotiations gets shot in the arm from EU adviserMarta Morcuende2026-06-12T14:53:40+02:00

Access Info joins 500+ organisations calling for stronger EU investment in democracy, media, and culture

Marta Morcuende2026-04-13T13:55:36+02:00

Madrid, 13 April 2026. – Access Info Europe has joined a broad coalition of over 500 organisations from across Europe calling on EU decision-makers to significantly increase funding for democracy, independent media, and civil society in the next EU budget. In a joint letter sent to EU leaders, the coalition urges the European Commission, Council and Parliament to back the European Parliament’s proposal to reinforce the budget of AgoraEU — a new programme designed to support culture, media, and fundamental rights under a single framework. For Access Info Europe, this is not just a budget discussion — it is

Access Info joins 500+ organisations calling for stronger EU investment in democracy, media, and cultureMarta Morcuende2026-04-13T13:55:36+02:00

Access Info Submits Comments on the Spanish Draft Law on Public Integrity

Marta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:51+01:00

Madrid, 2 March 2026. – Access Info Europe has participated in the public consultation and information process for the Spanish Draft Organic Law on Public Integrity, submitting its comments to the Ministry of Finance to strengthen the transparency and access to information requirements of this key legislation to prevent and combat corruption. The draft bill includes a wide range of measures aimed at strengthening accountability, improving institutional controls and increasing transparency in areas particularly sensitive to public integrity, which Access Info welcomes. Nevertheless, Access Info highlighted the limited timeframe provided for submitting comments and observations – just eight working

Access Info Submits Comments on the Spanish Draft Law on Public IntegrityMarta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:51+01:00

Access Info Celebrates Landmark Release of Secret Files on Spain’s 23-F Coup

Marta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:42+01:00

Madrid, 25 February 2026 — Access Info Europe welcomes the decision by the Spanish Government to declassify documents relating to the attempted coup d’état of 23 February 1981, a move that acknowledges the public’s right to know about events that profoundly shaped Spain’s democratic history. For decades, these documents remained inaccessible under the shadow of a Franco-era law — the 1968 Official Secrets Act — which, despite Spain’s transition to democracy, has continued to govern classified information without clear declassification deadlines or effective independent oversight. Its origins and outdated nature have been widely criticised by human rights organisations, historians

Access Info Celebrates Landmark Release of Secret Files on Spain’s 23-F CoupMarta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:42+01:00