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Give the Commission your views on EU lobbying!

2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00

This article was originally published by ALTER-EU. Brussels, 23 May 2015 - Do you want to see more transparency about who is lobbying who in Brussels and the EU institutions? Are you angry about the privileged access that corporate lobbyists get to EU decision-makers, whether it be on TTIP, tobacco, climate, regulation, digital rights...? The European Commission is consulting about how to improve the EU lobby transparency register with a view to revising and improving the current set-up. The consultation process is far from perfect, and the extent of the Commission's future ambition is not yet clear, but nonetheless, the

Give the Commission your views on EU lobbying!2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00

Spain’s extortionate Sunshine Tax is “a final solution for renewable energy”: What do the documents tell us?

2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00

Madrid, 19 May 2016 - On the day that the news is full of the fact that Portugal this month had four straight days of zero emissions energy production using renewable sources (full story here), documents obtained by Access Info Europe using Spain’s Transparency Law reveal the tense political battles behind a controversial 2015 law that imposes prohibitive taxes on use of home-produced energy (such as from solar power). Spain – a country replete with sunshine, wind and waves – could be breaking the same records as Portugal, but instead the renewables sector has been undermined and citizens who generate

Spain’s extortionate Sunshine Tax is “a final solution for renewable energy”: What do the documents tell us?2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00

Soria copió a Endesa el intento de prohibir el autoconsumo eléctrico a los usuarios más vulnerables

2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

El Diario | 12/05/2016 Spanish Industria incluyó en uno de los últimos borradores del decreto de autoconsumo dos párrafos que había sugerido la eléctrica. Tras las protestas de diversos sectores, el Ministerio se echó atrás y acabó permitiendo autoconsumir a clientes con bono social o tarifa regulada de la luz. Iberdrola expuso en julio de 2013 argumentos a favor del 'impuesto al sol' luego replicados en un estudio de FAES, la fundación del PP. Read more...

Soria copió a Endesa el intento de prohibir el autoconsumo eléctrico a los usuarios más vulnerables2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

Spain: NGOs go to court to obtain documents about lobbying on a controversial energy law

2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

Madrid 12 May 2016 – Two Spanish NGOs are challenging in court a decision by the Transparency Council granting only partial access to lobby documents submitted during elaboration of a controversial 2015 Law that imposes prohibitive taxes on use of home-produced energy (such as from solar power). Access Info Europe and the Platform for a New Energy Model in December 2015 had requested all documents submitted by third parties to the Ministry of Industry; the Ministry denied access on the grounds that the documents are “internal”, invoking one of the most problematic provisions of Spain’s 2013 Transparency Law. The Transparency

Spain: NGOs go to court to obtain documents about lobbying on a controversial energy law2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

EU Ombudsman: Public figures should expect a high degree of transparency about their professional competence

2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

Madrid/Brussels, 10 May 2016 – In an important Decision from the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly has said that data relating to the professional competence and activities of public figures, especially those appointed to a high level public posts, may not require the same level of protection as might apply to personal data in other circumstances. Access Info Europe and the HEC-NYU EU Public Interest Clinic welcomed the Ombudsman’s Decision on their complaint about the lack of transparency in the selection process for judges to the European Union Court of Justice (ECJ). “The public has a right to know if the

EU Ombudsman: Public figures should expect a high degree of transparency about their professional competence2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

“Impuesto revolucionario”, “solución final”… las críticas de las CCAA del PP al decreto de autoconsumo

2018-11-13T10:10:42+01:00

El Diario | 11/05/2016 Spanish - “Impuesto revolucionario”, “decepcionante”, “injustificado”, “desorbitado” o "solución final" para las renovables. Son algunos de los calificativos que emplearon en julio de 2013 varias comunidades autónomas gobernadas por el PP para arremeter contra la propuesta de Real Decreto para regular el autoconsumo que el Ministerio de Industria les había hecho llegar en esas fechas por vía de urgencia. Read more...  

“Impuesto revolucionario”, “solución final”… las críticas de las CCAA del PP al decreto de autoconsumo2018-11-13T10:10:42+01:00

Sssh… El plan español sobre empresas y derechos humanos es alto secreto

2018-11-13T10:10:42+01:00

El País | 10/05/2016 Spanish- Han pasado más de tres años desde que venció la fecha dada por la Comisión Europea a los Estados Miembros para que concretaran en planes nacionales cómo iban a implementar los Principios Rectores sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos de la ONU. España no ha cumplido y, según el Gobierno, los ciudadanos no tenemos derecho a saber porqué. Read more...

Sssh… El plan español sobre empresas y derechos humanos es alto secreto2018-11-13T10:10:42+01:00

After five months, European Commission tells Access Info the name of a database!

2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00

Madrid, 9 May 2016 - On Europe Day, Access Info’s Executive Director Helen Darbishire was happy to open a DHL package from the European Commission with the response to a request submitted on 16 November 2015 for information about the database in which the travel and entertainment expenses of the European Commissioners are stored. We asked about the database because we’ve been told it’s not possible to provide numerical data on how much each Commissioner spends on travel and entertainment without also providing personal data, which would take many days to redact. In the modern information era this seems odd.

After five months, European Commission tells Access Info the name of a database!2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00
Original content developed by Access Info Europe and is made public under a Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike licence.