Citizens Take Over Europe
Helen Darbishire2021-03-04T13:29:58+01:00Date: 09/05/2020 Helen Darbishire, Executive Director of Access Info Europe, participated in the online discussion The European Constitution as the foundation of the European Democracy and a citizens based European polity. Why do we need a European Constitution (EC) and how might we start a European Constitution making process (ECMP)?, as part of the Citizens Take Over Europe initiative. This citizen participation action starting on the 9th of May, aims to sending out a message of hope and togetherness, and to stand up for democracy. Among the participants: Ulrike Liebert (Bremen), Leonie Martin (Young European Federalists), Daniel Freund (Member of European
Spain: Access Info requests names of members of technical committee advising government on unwinding the lockdown
Helen Darbishire2021-04-01T14:29:38+02:00Madrid, 8 May 2020- Access Info today presented two information requests to the Spanish government about the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. In the first request, Access Info asked for the names and professional profiles of the members of the Technical Team that is advising the government on the region-by-region winding down of Spain’s very tight lockdown. In a second request, Access Info has asked for access to all the minutes of meetings and reports from the Scientific Committee that has been advising the government on managing the pandemic since March 2020. The government yesterday refused to provide these names to
Ten Recommendations on Transparency in Covid-19 Emergency Procurement
Helen Darbishire2021-08-11T13:25:48+02:00Madrid, 4 May 2020- Leading transparency and anti-corruption organisations from across Europe have today released a set of ten recommendations on how governments can ensure transparency of emergency procurement carried out during the coronavirus pandemic.
Spanish Government urged to guarantee the right of access to information during the Covid-19 crisis
Helen Darbishire2021-04-01T14:30:00+02:00Madrid, 27 April 2020- 31 Spanish civil society organisations, all members of the Coalición Pro Acceso, have called on the Spanish Government to guarantee the right of access to information. This comes after the suspension of all administrative deadlines under the state of emergency, which was declared on 14 March due to the coronavirus. In a letter addressed to Carolina Darias, the Minister of Territorial Policy and Public Function, the organisations denounce the negative effects that the pandemic is having on transparency and on access to information in Spain, a fundamental right that must be protected especially during a crisis,
Transparencia confinada: el estado de alarma paraliza el derecho de acceso a la información
Helen Darbishire2020-07-08T15:26:07+02:00Maldita.es| 24/04/2020 In Spanish - El ministro del Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, afirmaba este domingo en rueda de prensa que "el Portal de Transparencia, la transparencia, la información pública, es una de las prioridades, por no decir la primera prioridad, de este Gobierno después de terminar y acabar con el virus". Read more...
Council of the European Union maintains timeframes for responding to access to documents requests
Helen Darbishire2020-04-27T18:00:54+02:00Madrid, 21 April 2020 – Access Info today welcomed the announcement by the Council of the European Union that it will continue to process requests for documents, doing its best to adhere to the 15 working day timeframe, during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. A message from the Secretariat General’s Transparency team reads: The General Secretariat of the Council continues to support the political work, with some key services having to be present. Thanks to digital technology, the majority of staff remains fully operational. For the Transparency team, this means that we continue to deal with all requests for access to
El Gobierno no ha cerrado el Portal de Transparencia, pero sí ha suspendido los plazos de respuesta
Helen Darbishire2020-07-08T15:25:05+02:00Newtral | 20/04/2020 Spanish- El 14 de marzo se suspendieron los plazos para responder a las solicitudes de información a excepción de las que tenían que ver con el estado de alarma, pero cuatro días más tarde se modificó el texto y ahora la Administración no está obligada a responder. Leer más...
Montenegro Access to Information Law Reform Halted
Helen Darbishire2020-04-27T18:01:09+02:00Madrid, 17 April 2020 – Access Info today welcomed the news that Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Administration has decided to halt the public consultation on the controversial reform of the Law on Free Access to Information following a national and international outcry. Access Info was one of the organisations that jointed the campaign led by Montenegrin transparency specialists MANS calling for the consultation to be postponed, at least for the duration of the coronavirus lockdown, with people confined to their homes and parliamentary sessions are suspended. “The right to information is particularly important during this pandemic, and it is literally
EU urged to protect rule of law during coronavirus states of emergency
Helen Darbishire2020-04-27T18:01:18+02:00Madrid, 16 April 2020 – Access Info Europe today joined 80 MEPs and civil society organisations in calling on the European Union to address restrictions on the rule of law and human rights, including freedom of expression and information, being introduced via coronavirus pandemic emergency measures. In an open letter sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel, the signatories warn of the misuse of the coronavirus crisis to silence dissent, limit freedom of expression, marginalise civil society, and erode democratic values. The letter also calls on the EU to ensure that the