National Transparency Campaigns

2 Mar 2026

Access Info Submits Comments on the Spanish Draft Law on Public Integrity

Marta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:51+01:00

Madrid, 2 March 2026. – Access Info Europe has participated in the public consultation and information process for the Spanish Draft Organic Law on Public Integrity, submitting its comments to the Ministry of Finance to strengthen the transparency and access to information requirements of this key legislation to prevent and combat corruption. The draft bill includes a wide range of measures aimed at strengthening accountability, improving institutional controls and increasing transparency in areas particularly sensitive to public integrity, which Access Info welcomes. Nevertheless, Access Info highlighted the limited timeframe provided for submitting comments and observations – just eight working

Access Info Submits Comments on the Spanish Draft Law on Public IntegrityMarta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:51+01:00

25 Feb 2026

Access Info Celebrates Landmark Release of Secret Files on Spain’s 23-F Coup

Marta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:42+01:00

Madrid, 25 February 2026 — Access Info Europe welcomes the decision by the Spanish Government to declassify documents relating to the attempted coup d’état of 23 February 1981, a move that acknowledges the public’s right to know about events that profoundly shaped Spain’s democratic history. For decades, these documents remained inaccessible under the shadow of a Franco-era law — the 1968 Official Secrets Act — which, despite Spain’s transition to democracy, has continued to govern classified information without clear declassification deadlines or effective independent oversight. Its origins and outdated nature have been widely criticised by human rights organisations, historians

Access Info Celebrates Landmark Release of Secret Files on Spain’s 23-F CoupMarta Morcuende2026-03-18T16:45:42+01:00

2 Jun 2025

Spanish Court Orders Government to Disclose UNCAC Self-Assessment Documents

Rachel Hanna2025-06-19T11:56:35+02:00

02 June 2025 - A Spanish court has ruled that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation was wrong to refuse Access Info’s request for documents related to Spain’s self-assessment of its implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). Spain is currently participating in the second cycle of the UNCAC review process. As part of this process, countries must complete a self-assessment questionnaire on how they are complying with the UNCAC. This questionnaire then forms the foundation of a peer review by two other states, culminating in a final review report. In terms of transparency,

Spanish Court Orders Government to Disclose UNCAC Self-Assessment DocumentsRachel Hanna2025-06-19T11:56:35+02:00

26 Jan 2023

Malta: Access Info wins Court of Appeal ruling that all EU citizens have a right to submit information requests

Helen Darbishire2023-01-26T13:35:53+01:00

Madrid, 26 January 2023 - Malta’s Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of Access Info that the Maltese government was discriminatory and violated the rights of EU citizens when it refused to register an information request by a non-Maltese citizen. This major win for the right of access to information stems back to an August 2019 request by an Italian citizen working with Access Info, who asked for data on the return of migrants. The Maltese Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security refused to register the request stating that an “eligible person” under Malta’s 2008 Freedom of

Malta: Access Info wins Court of Appeal ruling that all EU citizens have a right to submit information requestsHelen Darbishire2023-01-26T13:35:53+01:00

4 Nov 2022

MPs’ expenses should be disclosed in response to information requests: Civil Society Brief to the European Court of Human Rights

Helen Darbishire2022-11-04T15:28:24+01:00

Photo: The French Assememblée Nationale in Paris, and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Strasbourg, 3 November 2022 - Access Info, ARTICLE 19, and ten access to information organisations from across Europe have submitted a brief to the European Court of Human Rights in a case against France demonstrating that information about expenses by members of parliament (MPs) falls under the scope of access to information laws and should be disclosed. Gathering comparative law and practice from across Europe, the third-party intervention – also known as an “amicus curiae” or friend of the court brief – was

MPs’ expenses should be disclosed in response to information requests: Civil Society Brief to the European Court of Human RightsHelen Darbishire2022-11-04T15:28:24+01:00

17 Oct 2022

Malta: Civil society calls for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia on fifth anniversary of her assassination

Helen Darbishire2022-10-17T16:32:52+02:00

Valletta, 16 October 2022 – Access Info is one of 36 freedom of expression and information groups which have denounced the Maltese government's lack of ambition and transparency in press freedom reforms and renewed calls for full justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia. The full statement reads as follows: Five years ago today, investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia was brutally assassinated in a car bomb attack in Malta. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues. Together with them, we continue to fight for full justice. Today is a day to remember and celebrate her fearless journalism, the far-reaching impact of

Malta: Civil society calls for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia on fifth anniversary of her assassinationHelen Darbishire2022-10-17T16:32:52+02:00

19 Sep 2022

Malta and Spain: The Right to Request – New Developments!

Helen Darbishire2022-09-19T17:45:38+02:00

19 September 2022 – As part of Access Info’s work to promote access to information as a right for all, a right which can be exercised transnationally, we are happy to share two important updates on our campaigns with a key court hearing in Malta and the good news of opening up requests to all in Spain. Access Info’s Litigation in Malta In Malta on 14 September 2022, the Court of Appeal heard a challenge brought by the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security against a March 2022 decision of the Information and Data Protection Appeals Tribunal (hereafter the

Malta and Spain: The Right to Request – New Developments!Helen Darbishire2022-09-19T17:45:38+02:00

15 Sep 2022

25 Civil Society Organisations Urge the Spanish Government and Political Groups to Amend the Draft Law on Protection of Whistleblowers

Helen Darbishire2022-09-20T13:09:27+02:00

Madrid, September 15, 2022 – 20 members of the Coalición Pro Acceso and 5 international organisations have sent the Spanish Government and parliamentary groups a Decalogue of Recommendations to strengthen Spain’s draft law on protection of whistleblowers. The draft law was first released by the Ministry of Justice as part of a public consultation held in March 2022. This draft law contained important gaps and loopholes that, if implemented in that form, would mean weakened protection of whistleblowers in practice. The Council of Ministers has now approved a new text based on this draft law, however, this text has not

25 Civil Society Organisations Urge the Spanish Government and Political Groups to Amend the Draft Law on Protection of WhistleblowersHelen Darbishire2022-09-20T13:09:27+02:00

30 Mar 2022

Malta Tribunal decides case in favour of Access Info and extends the right to information to non-residents

Helen Darbishire2022-03-30T14:03:23+02:00

30 March 2022 – Access Info has successfully defended the right of access to information in Malta, winning a court ruling from Malta’s Information and Data Protection Appeals Tribunal that all EU citizens have a right to submit information requests. The case arose from an August 2019 request for data on migration to Malta submitted by an Italian citizen working at Access Info’s Madrid office. The request was refused by Malta’s Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security on the grounds that she was not a Maltese resident. Malta’s 2008 Freedom of Information Act says that requesters must be both

Malta Tribunal decides case in favour of Access Info and extends the right to information to non-residentsHelen Darbishire2022-03-30T14:03:23+02:00

21 Feb 2022

OGP Summit Side Panel: How strong is your right to know?

Helen Darbishire2022-02-21T17:17:43+01:00

14 December 2021 – The measurement of the right of access to information is still in its infancy, although there are now some important initiatives, including from UNESCO and the OECD to capture data from governments, whilst civil society projects are developing more in-depth tools to measure transparency in practice. The current state of measurement of the right to information was discussed at an expert webinar that took place on 14 December 2021 as part of the Open Government Partnership summit. The full video of the webinar can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/657069498 An important conclusion of the debate was that

OGP Summit Side Panel: How strong is your right to know?Helen Darbishire2022-02-21T17:17:43+01:00