Decision Making Transparency – Access Info Europe

6 Dec 2022

Not all Expression is Lobbying

Helen Darbishire2023-01-11T12:13:43+01:00

Submission to OECD Consultation on Lobbying and Influence Madrid, 6 December 2022 – In its analysis of the draft OECD Recommendation on the regulation of lobbying and influence, Access Info has warned of the risk of some governments using the proposed provisions to limit media freedom and freedom of expression in the name of regulating “influence” and ensuring that public officials are “shielded from undue influence”. In the full version of its submission to the consultation on the OECD Recommendation on Transparency and Integrity in Lobbying and Influence (hereinafter “Draft Recommendation) [1], Access Info highlights concerns about the broad

Not all Expression is LobbyingHelen Darbishire2023-01-11T12:13:43+01:00

11 Mar 2022

Is the Guardian of the Treaties Doing Enough for EU Transparency? MEPs don’t seem to think so!

Helen Darbishire2022-03-11T12:52:13+01:00

Madrid, 11 March 2022 – On 10 March 2022, following the scandal about the Commission refusing access to President Ursula von der Leyen’s text messages, the European Parliament held a plenary session to discuss application of the EU’s access to documents rules, known as Regulation 1049/2001. Yet, the Commission President, much like her text message conversation with the CEO of Pfizer, was nowhere to be found. Rachel Hanna, Legal Researcher at Access Info reports. The Commission’s decision to refuse an access to documents request regarding text messages exchanged between President Ursula von der Leyen and the CEO of Pfizer on

Is the Guardian of the Treaties Doing Enough for EU Transparency? MEPs don’t seem to think so!Helen Darbishire2022-03-11T12:52:13+01:00

14 Feb 2022

Access to meetings calendars? Access Info submits Amicus Curiae Brief to the European Court of Human Rights

Helen Darbishire2022-03-11T11:57:13+01:00

Madrid / Strasbourg, 14 February 2022 – There is strong comparative evidence from across Europe that national access to information laws apply to the meetings calendars of senior public officials according to a submission made by Access Info to the European Court of Human Rights. This evidence has been presented in the form of an Amicus Curiae (“friend of the court”) Brief submitted in relation to the case of Citizens Network Watchdog Poland vs. Poland currently under consideration by Europe’s top human rights court. This case arose when the organisation Watchdog Poland requested the calendars of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal

Access to meetings calendars? Access Info submits Amicus Curiae Brief to the European Court of Human RightsHelen Darbishire2022-03-11T11:57:13+01:00

28 Jan 2022

European Commission President’s text messages are documents and can be requested says Ombudsman

Helen Darbishire2022-01-28T15:13:58+01:00

Madrid / Brussels, 28 January 2022 – Access Info has hailed today’s decision by the European Ombudsman that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s text messages with the CEO of Pfizer about Covid vaccine purchases are documents to which the public can request access. Access Info is calling for an urgent reform to ensure that the EU’s twenty-year-old access to documents rules are brought into line with the digital age. Rather remarkably, the European Commission had told Alexander Fanta, a journalist with netzpolitik.org, that because it does not register text messages, these cannot be requested. This refusal came to a

European Commission President’s text messages are documents and can be requested says OmbudsmanHelen Darbishire2022-01-28T15:13:58+01:00

1 Apr 2021

Access Info and the Daphne Foundation kick-off the first event of the FOI Youth Project

Helen Darbishire2021-04-01T15:12:18+02:00

Madrid and Valletta, 1 April 2021– Access Info Europe and the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation are pleased to announce the launch of the Freedom of Information Youth Project, which will raise awareness among young people of the benefits of exercising the fundamental right of access to information for combatting disinformation and protecting democracy.

Access Info and the Daphne Foundation kick-off the first event of the FOI Youth ProjectHelen Darbishire2021-04-01T15:12:18+02:00

26 Jan 2021

Concern re Independence of Spain’s Transparency Council

Helen Darbishire2021-01-26T22:07:47+01:00

Access Info Europe is seriously concerned about recent changes to key personnel in Spain’s Transparency Council, which raise the spectre of an attack on the independence of the Council, and points to the urgent need to reform the process by which its directors are appointed.

Concern re Independence of Spain’s Transparency CouncilHelen Darbishire2021-01-26T22:07:47+01:00

25 Jan 2021

CALL for Participants – Freedom of Information Youth Project!

Helen Darbishire2021-03-31T10:40:33+02:00

Are you between 18 and 30 years old, passionate about human rights and journalism, and resident in either Malta or Spain? Then we are looking for you! The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation and Access Info Europe, two civil society organisations based in Malta and Madrid, are looking for youths interested in participating in the one-year Freedom of Information Youth Project! The project aims to offer to a group of 45 young people based in Spain and Malta the possibility to participate in a series of training sessions designed to leverage the fundamental right of access to information and raise greater

CALL for Participants – Freedom of Information Youth Project!Helen Darbishire2021-03-31T10:40:33+02:00

18 Dec 2020

EU Council urged to end Corporate Lobbying

Helen Darbishire2020-12-22T11:01:17+01:00

Access Info Europe today joined Corporate Europe Observatory, Transparência e Integridade and 63 other civil society organisations from across Europe, calling on the incoming Portuguese Presidency of the European Union to push for much needed lobby transparency, accountability and democratic reforms within the Council.

EU Council urged to end Corporate LobbyingHelen Darbishire2020-12-22T11:01:17+01:00

28 May 2019

Contest: Digital solution for citizen participation

Helen Darbishire2020-01-29T10:49:27+01:00

You have an idea for a new app or platform which can enable better communication and cooperation of citizens in addressing the problems of their communities? You think that digital democracy can support higher inclusion of citizens in policy-making? If your answers to these questions are positive, we invite you to share your idea about innovative digital solution which would strengthen citizen activism and improve the communication between citizens and decision-makers. We will select maximum 5 best ideas, while a grant award in the amount of 2,000 Euros will be awarded to the winner with the aim of developing the

Contest: Digital solution for citizen participationHelen Darbishire2020-01-29T10:49:27+01:00

5 Oct 2017

Transparency is core feature of new Council of Europe Guidelines on participation

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:03:07+01:00

Madrid, 5 October 2017 – Access Info Europe has welcomed the inclusion of core access to information principles in the Council of Europe’s Guidelines on public participation in decision making. The Guidelines, published last week on the eve of Right to Know Day (27 September 2017), include two of the pro-transparency organisation’s recommendations submitted during the 2016 public consultation: the need for timely provision of information and the narrow application of possible exceptions to access. “With the adoption of these guidelines, members of the Council of Europe must push to bridge the gap between citizens and decision makers, by enabling

Transparency is core feature of new Council of Europe Guidelines on participationHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:03:07+01:00