EU Transparency

14 May 2025

Pfizergate: EU Court Rules Commission in Violation of Transparency Law Over von der Leyen–Pfizer Texts

Rachel Hanna2025-05-14T16:43:34+02:00

14 May 2025 – The General Court of the European Union has annulled the European Commission decision to refuse access to text messages relating to COVID-19 vaccine negotiations, stating that doing so violated EU access to documents law and breached the principle of good administration. In early 2021, it was revealed that President von der Leyen had exchanged text messages with Pfizer CEO during negotiations for COVID-19 vaccine procurement. Following this, a journalist from The New York Times submitted a request for access to these messages under the EU's access to documents law (Regulation 1049/2001). According to the Commission's

Pfizergate: EU Court Rules Commission in Violation of Transparency Law Over von der Leyen–Pfizer TextsRachel Hanna2025-05-14T16:43:34+02:00

8 May 2025

Civil Society Coalition Calls on European Ombudsman to Defend Transparency and the Right of Access to EU Documents

Rachel Hanna2025-05-08T18:19:29+02:00

08 May 2025 - Access Info Europe, alongside a coalition of transparency and accountability organisations, has written to newly elected European Ombudsman Ms. Anjinho urging action to address the “systematic erosion of transparency standards and practices within the EU institutions.” In a joint letter, the coalition congratulated Ms. Anjinho on her election and welcomed her leadership at a pivotal moment for the future of EU democracy. They called on her to use the powers of her office to ensure that transparency is “not merely a theoretical principle, but is implemented by the institutions in practice.” The coalition - which

Civil Society Coalition Calls on European Ombudsman to Defend Transparency and the Right of Access to EU DocumentsRachel Hanna2025-05-08T18:19:29+02:00

25 Mar 2025

Joint Legal Challenge Filed Against European Commission’s New Access to Documents Rules

Rachel Hanna2025-03-25T11:09:49+01:00

25 March 2025 - Access Info brings legal challenge against European Commission arguing that its new access to documents rules violate the Charter, the TFEU, and Regulation 1049/2001. Access Info, together with Emilio de Capitani and Päivi Leino-Sandberg, has brought a direct legal challenge before the General Court of the European Union, arguing that various provisions of the European Commission’s revised internal rules on access to documents violate the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (the Charter), the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and Regulation 1049/2001. Led by lawyers Rainer Hable, Onno Brouwer, Alvaro Pliego Selie, and

Joint Legal Challenge Filed Against European Commission’s New Access to Documents RulesRachel Hanna2025-03-25T11:09:49+01:00

23 Sep 2024

Finalists Announced for the Inaugural Access Info Impact Award

Rachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:24:58+02:00

Madrid 23 September 2024 – Access Info is proud to announce the three finalists for the first-ever Access Info Impact Award. The Access Info Impact Award aims to honour individuals and organisations that have effectively used their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, democracy, or anti-corruption efforts. After opening nominations last month, the award received 21 high-calibre entries from civil society organisations, journalists, academics, and citizens across Europe. A distinguished Evaluation Committee has carefully reviewed all the nominations and shortlisted the following three outstanding candidates: Lighthouse Reports - Uncovering discrimination in algorithmic decision-making The investigative series

Finalists Announced for the Inaugural Access Info Impact AwardRachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:24:58+02:00

12 Aug 2024

Call for nominations for the Access Info Impact Award

Rachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:28:57+02:00

Madrid, 12 August 2024 – Access Info Europe today announces the launch of the Access Info Impact Award which celebrates those who have used their right to information to have a positive impact on society. The Access Info Impact Award recognises those who have significantly leveraged their right to information to advance human rights, environmental protection, democracy, and/or anti-corruption efforts. By celebrating exemplary achievements of civil society advocates, campaigners, journalists, academics and practitioners across Europe, the award aims to highlight the importance of the right to information and inspire others to utilise this powerful tool. Through this award,

Call for nominations for the Access Info Impact AwardRachel Hanna2024-09-24T09:28:57+02:00

28 Nov 2022

Global Civil Society Organisations Concerned About European Court Ruling on Beneficial Ownership Transparency

Helen Darbishire2022-11-30T15:11:57+01:00

As European Union and African Union representatives meet in Brussels on Monday 28 November 2022 to review progress following the EU-AU Summit in February, 34 African and European civil society organisations have raised concerns about threats to ground-breaking EU transparency measures, which could undermine all that has been put in place to prevent and combat the problem of illicit financial flows out of Africa. The 34 organisations state: “Illicit financial flows rob African nations of almost US$89 billion each year. Anonymous companies are often used as the get-away vehicles of the corrupt, helping syphon these funds out of Africa

Global Civil Society Organisations Concerned About European Court Ruling on Beneficial Ownership TransparencyHelen Darbishire2022-11-30T15:11:57+01:00

28 Sep 2022

Right to Know Day 2022: The EU should make this a right for all citizens!

Helen Darbishire2022-09-28T15:29:33+02:00

28 September 2022 - As we celebrate the International Day for Universal Access to Information, Access Info calls on European Union bodies to fully respect the right to EU documents and ensure that it can be enjoyed by all in practice. Releasing the key findings of a survey of the websites of 54 EU bodies, Access Info has identified a string of practical obstacles that stand between European citizens and their right to know, including: Languages – a right for English speakers only: While nearly three-quarters of EU websites explain the right of access to documents (70%), the majority

Right to Know Day 2022: The EU should make this a right for all citizens!Helen Darbishire2022-09-28T15:29:33+02:00

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

9 Mar 2022

Transparency to Track Hidden Wealth

Helen Darbishire2023-07-27T15:43:13+02:00

9 March 2022 - As the Russian onslaught on Ukraine continues, 127 leading transparency, anti-corruption, journalist and open data organisations today issued a statement calling on European Union Institutions and Member States to act urgently to open company and beneficial ownership registers so as to facilitate tracking the hidden wealth of Russian oligarchs and to ensure effective sanctions. The EU and its allies have rallied to support Ukraine, but without a robust system of transparent company and beneficial ownership data, detecting hidden Russian wealth is difficult, given that many use family members and networks of shell companies to conceal their

Transparency to Track Hidden WealthHelen Darbishire2023-07-27T15:43:13+02:00

9 Mar 2022

Act now – open up company and beneficial ownership registers across Europe!

Helen Darbishire2022-03-18T15:32:55+01:00

This statement, signed by 127 leading transparency, anti-corruption, journalist and open data organisations call upon the European Union Institutions and Member States: act now and open up all company and beneficial ownership registers across the European Union to the public! This is crucial in exposing assets and money of Russian oligarchs in the EU. We are deeply horrified by Putin's incursion into Ukraine and the violation of the rule of law, human rights, and state sovereignty. We support the European Union in collectively taking a strong stance to defend democracy and our common values. The sanctions imposed - freezing assets,

Act now – open up company and beneficial ownership registers across Europe!Helen Darbishire2022-03-18T15:32:55+01:00