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The Global Right to Information Update: The right to information movement is well positioned to fight for better commitments on corporate transparency and open data.

2020-02-14T11:22:21+01:00

Madrid, 8 July 2013 – The largest analysis of the worldwide movement for access to information, The Global Right to Information Update was published today by the Freedom of Information Advocates Network. The publication looks at how the movement for the right to information has brought issues of transparency and open government to the forefront of political and economic debate – as reflected in recent weeks in open data commitments made by the G8 – and maps out the challenges lying ahead. The authors, human rights advocates from seven continents, report on the threat to progress made so far posed

The Global Right to Information Update: The right to information movement is well positioned to fight for better commitments on corporate transparency and open data.2020-02-14T11:22:21+01:00

ECHR reaffirms the fundamental character of the right of access to information

2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

Madrid, 4 July 2013 – Whilst in Spain the main parties have closed the debate and rejected the fundamental nature of the right of access to information, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has again ruled on the contrary, reaffirming that, “the right of access to information contained in public documents is a fundamental human right that must be applied at the national level according to general principles, such as the right of access to information”.

ECHR reaffirms the fundamental character of the right of access to information2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

Access Info signs letter in support of independent EU Ombudsman

2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

Madrid, 2 July 2013 – Today, a group of European civil society organisations, concerned by the nomination of MEPs in the EU Ombudsman election, sent a letter to MEPs calling on them to vote for an impartial and independent Ombudsman during the July plenary session. The election of the EU Ombudsman is being fought by 6 candidates; Alex Brenninkmeijer (The Netherlands), Markus Jaeger (Germany), Ria Oomen-Ruijten (The Netherlands), Emily O’Reilly (Ireland), Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (Germany), Francesco Speroni (Italy). You can read a copy of the letter, also signed by Access Info, below.

Access Info signs letter in support of independent EU Ombudsman2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

ECHR ruling Youth Initiative NGO Serbia

2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

Fundamental right of access to information strengthened by ECHR ruling Madrid, 27 June 2013 – Access Info Europe welcomes the recent decision by the European Court of Human Rights which further strengthens the right of access to information held by public bodies. A summary of the ruling The ECHR ruled on the case between ‘Youth Initiative for Human Rights vs. the Republic of Serbia’ about the refusal of the Serbian intelligence agency to provide the NGO with certain information concerning electronic surveillance, despite a final and binding decision in favour of disclosure by the Serbian Information Commissioner in 2005.

ECHR ruling Youth Initiative NGO Serbia2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

Commission urged to tackle dominance of business in expert groups

2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

Commission urged to tackle dominance of business in expert groups Brussels, 27 June 2013 – Today the European Ombudsman produced recommendations for the European Commission on how to tackle the dominance of business interests within its expert groups, following a three year investigation as a result of a complaint from the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation in Europe (ALTER-EU). The Ombudsman found numerous cases of maladministration after investigating all four allegations made by ALTER-EU regarding the Commission’s expert groups – which advise it on legislation and policy. In an attempt to pursue a ‘friendly solution’ to the complaint,

Commission urged to tackle dominance of business in expert groups2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

New report shows urgent need to rescue EU’s ineffective lobby register

2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

Brussels, 20 June 2013 — The European Commission and European Parliament’s joint lobby register turns two years old this week, and a new report by the Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU) shows that the voluntary register is still failing to get a sufficient share of lobbyists to register and remains packed with unreliable and incomplete data. Access Info, as part of the steering committee of ALTER-EU, is calling on the Commission and Parliament to use the opportunity of the register’s review to make the Transparency Register mandatory. The report, “Rescue the Register! How to make EU lobby transparency

New report shows urgent need to rescue EU’s ineffective lobby register2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

Legal basis identified for mandatory EU lobby register

2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

Brussels, 17 June 2013 – An independent legal analysis launched today in Brussels has revealed that the EU institutions have a legal basis on which to act to make the Transparency Register mandatory. The study, launched at the beginning of the Register’s review process, was commissioned by ALTER EU and the Austrian Arbeiterkammer to counter the Commission’s arguments that the EU has no competence to make the register binding on lobbyists.

Legal basis identified for mandatory EU lobby register2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

French Transparency Law: it’s time to regulate lobbying

2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

Madrid/Paris, 17 June 2013 – Access Info has joined 10 civil society organisations from around the world in calls on the French parliament to adopt legislation which will introduce a mandatory register of lobbyists. The calls for greater regulation of lobbying come as the French parliament (Assemblée Nationale) considers a draft law on control of conflicts of interest in the wake of a series of corruption scandals.

French Transparency Law: it’s time to regulate lobbying2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

Access Info Europe calls on the Ukrainian Parliament to adopt without further delay important amendments concerning access to information

2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

Madrid, 15 June 2013 – Access Info Europe calls on the Ukrainian Parliament to adopt Draft Law No. 0947 before summer recess and align Ukrainian legislation with the new information laws that Ukraine passed in 2011. Draft amendments are pending in the Parliament since May 2012 and are key for the proper enforcement of the landmark 2011 Law of Ukraine on Access to Public Information which was recognized as one of the best legal texts on the subject globally .

Access Info Europe calls on the Ukrainian Parliament to adopt without further delay important amendments concerning access to information2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

European Court of Justice ruling entrenches EU secrecy in international relations

2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00

  Madrid, 7 June 2013 – Access Info Europe notes with regret today’s ruling by the General Court of the European Court of Justice which upholds the European Commission’s refusal to make public documents about the EU-India Free Trade Agreement requested by the lobby watchdog Corporate Europe Observatory. The central question in the case Corporate Europe Observatory v European Commission revolves around whether or not dissemination of minutes of meetings and email correspondence would harm the EU’s international relations. The Court’s ruling is particularly regrettable given that these documents had been shared with representatives of the European and Indian business

European Court of Justice ruling entrenches EU secrecy in international relations2018-11-13T10:12:34+01:00
Original content developed by Access Info Europe and is made public under a Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike licence.