EU Transparency

30 Sep 2013

European Elections 2014: Transparency must be a priority, MEPs told

Helen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:24:56+01:00

Madrid, 2 October 2013 – In the run up to the European Parliament elections in May 2014, Access Info has today written to all 766 Members of the European Parliament informing them of opinion poll findings which show huge support for transparency in the areas such as the financial crisis and lobbying by business. Over 80 % of the public wants greater transparency in areas such as Council decision-making, legal opinions on future laws, and spending of EU funds. Access Info has also submitted to MEPs recommendations from the public which make clear that greater access to information must be

European Elections 2014: Transparency must be a priority, MEPs toldHelen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:24:56+01:00

27 Sep 2013

ECB urged to review refusals

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:22+01:00

Brussels, 27 September 2013 -The European Central Bank regularly invokes the need to protect monetary policy and the financial stability of the Union and its Member States when refusing access to information a report by Access Info presented in Brussels today has revealed. Requesters are often seeking information about exchanges with Member States on the financial crisis. One third (36%) of requests resulted in full or partial refusals, with just 32% of requests receiving some or all information sought. Access Info has called on the ECB to review the legitimacy of its exceptions which are not all in line with

ECB urged to review refusalsHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:22+01:00

29 Jul 2013

EU Citizens Project

Helen Darbishire2020-02-14T12:55:43+01:00

There are six organisations involved in the Alter Citizens Project. These are Access Info Europe – based in Spain, AITEC – based in France, Environmental Law Service – based in the Czech Republic, Friends of the Earth Europe – based in Belgium, Health Action International – based in the Netherlands, and SpinWatch – based in the UK.

EU Citizens ProjectHelen Darbishire2020-02-14T12:55:43+01:00

9 Jul 2013

Update on the revision of Regulation 1049/2001

Helen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:15:28+01:00

Brussels, 11 July 2013 - The European Parliament has succeeded in getting the EU's access to documents Regulation 1049/2001 back on the agenda of the Council's working party on information, following a public debate and Motion for a Resolution which calls on the European Commission and the Member States to come back to the negotiating table. The EU's transparency negotiations have been stalled since the Danish Presidency failed to broker an agreement in the Council in June 2012. During the debate held in the Parliament on 21 May, which the EU transparency Commissioner Mr Maroš Šefčovič did not attend, the

Update on the revision of Regulation 1049/2001Helen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:15:28+01:00

2 Jul 2013

Access Info signs letter in support of independent EU Ombudsman

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:33+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 OmbudsmanHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:33+01:00

20 May 2013

Advocate General Opinion issued in European Court of Justice Case

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:42+01:00

AG advises Court to dismiss challenge by Council Luxembourg/Madrid, 16 May 2013 – In the penultimate stage of Access Info’s court case for full access to a document relating to the reform of the EU’s access to documents rules, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has issued an opinion which advises the Court to dismiss the legal challenge brought by the Council of the EU against the March 2011 decision by the first instance General Court that the Council should provide Access Info Europe with the requested document.

Advocate General Opinion issued in European Court of Justice CaseHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:42+01:00

19 May 2013

Transparency of the European Central Bank on the Financial Crisis

Helen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:24:49+01:00

Access Info Europe applies to join key case at European Court of Justice Madrid, 6 May 2013 – Access Info Europe has applied to the European Court of Justice to intervene in a case which is of great importance to the European public in the context of the financial crisis: the case is about whether we have a right to know what key EU bodies, such as the European Central Bank, know about the financial health of Eurozone Member States. In a letter to the Court sent on 6 May 2013, Access Info Europe asked for leave to intervene in

Transparency of the European Central Bank on the Financial CrisisHelen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:24:49+01:00

9 May 2013

New Guide on Access to EU Documents

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:43+01:00

Madrid, 9 May 2013 – To celebrate Europe Day, Access Info is launching a citizen-friendly Guide on Access to EU Documents and is calling on members of the public and civil society organisations to exercise their rights and file access to documents requests. The EU has recognised a fundamental right of access to EU documents, but the EU's freedom of information law – which goes by the catchy title of 'Regulation 1049/2001' – remains underused by the population at large. The new guide demystifies the process of asking for EU documents explaining step by step how to make a request.

New Guide on Access to EU DocumentsHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:43+01:00

9 May 2013

Citizens trip to Brussels: Figuring out the European Union Institutions

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:43+01:00

Citizens trip to Brussels: Figuring out the European Union Institutions Brussels, 18 November 2012 – As part of the EU Citizens Project, 46 citizens from 6 countries in Europe had the opportunity to travel to Brussels, from the 14 to 16 November 2012, as part of a trip organised to bring citizens closer to the EU institutions and to encourage them to participate. On the morning of the first day, two groups of citizens started the “lobby tour” in the European quarter of Brussels, listening to explanations from lobby experts, Oliver Hoedeman, Pascoe Sabido and Richard Tabsey of Corporate Europe

Citizens trip to Brussels: Figuring out the European Union InstitutionsHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:43+01:00

24 Apr 2013

The Voices of EU Citizens Presented in Brussels

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:44+01:00

“I don’t want to be rich, I want to be happy” Madrid/Brussels, 24 April 2013 — Access Info Europe today called on the European Union to make the “European Year of Citizens” a reality by removing obstacles to participation in Brussels decision making, in particular by increasing levels of EU transparency. *A member of the Spanish public speaking in this video which captures the voices of European Citizens facing up to the current financial crisis Citizens’ Report (EN) Citizens’ Report (FR) Citizens’ Report (ES) Presenting “The Citizens’ Report: Participation, Ethics and Transparency – What citizens want from Brussels”, the culmination

The Voices of EU Citizens Presented in BrusselsHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:12:44+01:00