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Hitting a Hundred Access to Information Laws Globally

2018-11-13T10:11:44+01:00

Need for Better Data on Transparency in Practice [UPDATE 19 September 2014 - This law was signed and adopted by the President of Paraguay on Thursday 18 September 2014, making Paraguay the 100th country to adopt an access to information law] Madrid, 26 August 2014 – The civil society movement campaigning for government openness is on the point of reaching a significant landmark with the Latin American country of Paraguay awaiting presidential sign off on what will be the world's 100th access to information law. The law was passed by Paraguay's parliament on 21 August 2014. [The picture shows Horacio

Hitting a Hundred Access to Information Laws Globally2018-11-13T10:11:44+01:00

Civil society urge EU to push for more transparency in non-financial reports by business

2018-11-13T10:11:44+01:00

Madrid, 11 August 2014 – Access Info Europe highlighted the need for further access to information around the non-financial reporting of companies as part of a European Commission survey on corporate social responsibility. Civil society has emphasised the lack of regulation in this area, and stressed the need for more transparency and accountability regarding the impact of business actions on trade, the environment, development and human rights. The Commission is looking to receive feedback on the implementation of its most recent policy on corporate social responsibility, which is outlined in "A renewed EU strategy 2011-14 for Corporate Social Responsibility" (COM(2011)

Civil society urge EU to push for more transparency in non-financial reports by business2018-11-13T10:11:44+01:00

Civil Society Urge EU to Push For More Transparency in Non-Financial Reports by Business

2020-02-14T11:19:35+01:00

Madrid, 11 August 2014 – Access Info Europe highlighted the need for further access to information around the non-financial reporting of companies as part of a European Commission survey on corporate social responsibility. Civil society has emphasised the lack of regulation in this area, and stressed the need for more transparency and accountability regarding the impact of business actions on trade, the environment, development and human rights. The Commission is looking to receive feedback on the implementation of its most recent policy on corporate social responsibility, which is outlined in "A renewed EU strategy 2011-14 for Corporate Social Responsibility" (COM(2011)

Civil Society Urge EU to Push For More Transparency in Non-Financial Reports by Business2020-02-14T11:19:35+01:00

Open data to get your teeth into!

2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

Access Info invites open analysis of UK FCO documents Madrid, 4 August 2014 – Access Info Europe called for fellow freedom of information activists to help analyse and discover the information and data held in the tens of UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office documents on negotiations in Brussels to revise the European Union's transparency law, in a crowdsourcing initiative launched today. Download the documents here! These documents, obtained as a result of a four-year legal battle, are a unprecedented insight into the debate around the right of access to EU documents that has been going on since 2008, and could

Open data to get your teeth into!2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

European Ombudsman urges proactive transparency of EU-US trade talks

2020-01-29T11:25:29+01:00

Madrid, 31 July 2014 – Access Info Europe today welcomed the decision by the European Ombudsman to call for more proactive disclosure of documents to stakeholders surrounding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, and to open investigations into the Council of the EU and EU Commission’s lack of transparency around these talks. Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly has offered a range of practical measures to enable timely public access to TTIP documents, and to details of meetings with stakeholders. Referring to the pro-transparency jurisprudence established by Access Info’s case against the Council (won in October 2013) as well as by

European Ombudsman urges proactive transparency of EU-US trade talks2020-01-29T11:25:29+01:00

Civil Society Highlight Need for Public Bodies in Poland to be More Transparent

2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

Madrid, 28 July 2014 - The Polish central government and voivodships provided less access to information than local governments despite obligations under Polish law, according to research carried out to verify the practical enforcement of citizens' right to access to public information. The research, carried out by Association "Cities on the Internet" with expertise input from Access Info Europe, examined more than 100 public bodies around Poland leading to recommendations on how to improve the law, and to the creation of a Transparency Index ranking institutional fulfillment of current obligations under the right of access to information. “The results of

Civil Society Highlight Need for Public Bodies in Poland to be More Transparent2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

The In ‘t Veld Ruling: Raising the Bar for Denying Access to EU Documents

2020-01-29T11:25:20+01:00

Madrid, 25 July 2014 - Helen Darbishire and Pamela Bartlett of Access Info Europe analyse the wider consequences of the recent European Court of Justice ruling, which will make it harder to deny access to EU documents relating to international relations or to containing legal advice. The 3 July 2014 pro-transparency ruling by the European Court of Justice in the legal battle for access to negotiations between the European Union and the United States on sharing financial transaction data in order to fight terrorism, will make it harder for the EU to deny access to documents relating to international relations

The In ‘t Veld Ruling: Raising the Bar for Denying Access to EU Documents2020-01-29T11:25:20+01:00

Civil society call on the EU institutions to join the Open Government Partnership

2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

Madrid, 16 July - Access Info Europe has joined over 50 other signatories, including networks and coalitions, calling upon the European Union to closely engage and eventually join the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initative. The letter sent earlier this month asks the EU to commit to uphold the same inclusion, transparency and accountability standards that they ask of others both inside and outside the Union. It will help bridge the gap between the EU and its citizens, and enhance the EU’s credibility in its international efforts to improve the quality of governance in third countries by empowering citizens through participation.

Civil society call on the EU institutions to join the Open Government Partnership2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

New Commission President Juncker Commits to Transparency on Trade Deals and to a mandatory EU lobby register

2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

Madrid, 16 July 2014 - Access Info Europe welcomed the commitment made today by new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to transparency of decision making, particularly with respect to lobbying and international trade negotiations, and to enacting a mandatory register of lobbyists. The commitment by Juncker at his confirmation hearing in the European Parliament included specific references to transparency during all steps of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, something which Access Info Europe along with over 250 civil society groups have been calling for since the negotiations began. Following the speech, Access Info made a request through

New Commission President Juncker Commits to Transparency on Trade Deals and to a mandatory EU lobby register2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

Civil society welcomes withdrawal of upfront FOI fees in Ireland, but concerns remain over charges

2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

Madrid/Dublin, 16 July 2014 - Access Info Europe has welcomed the Irish government's decision to withdraw upfront fees for access to information (also known as FOI) requests. The decision comes after extensive campaigning by Irish and international civil society organisations, and by not charging upfront fees would bring Ireland into line with international standards. The specialist transparency organisation expressed caution however, over other charges which still may apply and which do not follow standards on access to information. For example, charges for searching and retrieving information for more than 5 hours remain, as well as charges to make internal reviews

Civil society welcomes withdrawal of upfront FOI fees in Ireland, but concerns remain over charges2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00
Original content developed by Access Info Europe and is made public under a Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike licence.