21 Apr 2020

Council of the European Union maintains timeframes for responding to access to documents requests

2020-04-27T18:00:54+02:00

Madrid, 21 April 2020 – Access Info today welcomed the announcement by the Council of the European Union that it will continue to process requests for documents, doing its best to adhere to the 15 working day timeframe, during the ongoing coronavirus crisis. A message from the Secretariat General’s Transparency team reads: The General Secretariat of the Council continues to support the political work, with some key services having to be present. Thanks to digital technology, the majority of staff remains fully operational. For the Transparency team, this means that we continue to deal with all requests for access to

Council of the European Union maintains timeframes for responding to access to documents requests2020-04-27T18:00:54+02:00
17 Apr 2020

Montenegro Access to Information Law Reform Halted

2020-04-27T18:01:09+02:00

Madrid, 17 April 2020 – Access Info today welcomed the news that Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Administration has decided to halt the public consultation on the controversial reform of the Law on Free Access to Information following a national and international outcry. Access Info was one of the organisations that jointed the campaign led by Montenegrin transparency specialists MANS calling for the consultation to be postponed, at least for the duration of the coronavirus lockdown, with people confined to their homes and parliamentary sessions are suspended. “The right to information is particularly important during this pandemic, and it is literally

Montenegro Access to Information Law Reform Halted2020-04-27T18:01:09+02:00
16 Apr 2020

EU urged to protect rule of law during coronavirus states of emergency

2020-04-27T18:01:18+02:00

Madrid, 16 April 2020 – Access Info Europe today joined 80 MEPs and civil society organisations in calling on the European Union to address restrictions on the rule of law and human rights, including freedom of expression and information, being introduced via coronavirus pandemic emergency measures. In an open letter sent to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel, the signatories warn of the misuse of the coronavirus crisis to silence dissent, limit freedom of expression, marginalise civil society, and erode democratic values. The letter also calls on the EU to ensure that the

EU urged to protect rule of law during coronavirus states of emergency2020-04-27T18:01:18+02:00
6 Apr 2020

Now more than ever: transparency and whistleblower protection

2021-11-12T17:13:10+01:00

Madrid, 6 April 2020– Access Info Europe today joined leading transparency and anti-corruption organisations in calling on all public authorities to ensure and strengthen whistleblower protection during the state of emergency caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Now more than ever: transparency and whistleblower protection2021-11-12T17:13:10+01:00
1 Apr 2020

Montenegro urged to halt public consultation on access to information law during the state of emergency

2020-04-27T18:01:43+02:00

Madrid, 1 April 2020 – Access Info today joined 41 Montenegrin NGOs and 28 journalists in calling on the government of Montenegro to halt moves to weaken the Law on Free Access to Information in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter of concern sent to Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Administration, Access Info called on it to postpone a public consultation on reforms to the Law on Free Access to Information that is taking place this week with a deadline of 4 April. This public consultation comes just at a time when people are confined to their homes,

Montenegro urged to halt public consultation on access to information law during the state of emergency2020-04-27T18:01:43+02:00
30 Mar 2020

EU urged to condemn Hungary’s limits on freedom of expression and information as part of Coronavirus crisis emergency measures

2020-04-27T18:01:52+02:00

Madrid, 30 March 2020 – Access Info has expressed serious concerns about the sweeping powers granted to Hungary’s Prime Minister Victor Orbán in a parliamentary vote approving indefinite rule by decree and jail terms for spreading misinformation. Access Info’s Director Helen Darbishire is one of the first signatories of a petition developed with MEPs, which is now open for all to sign. “The Coronavirus pandemic is being used as a pretext or another step towards undermining democracy and human rights in Hungary. This is something that the European Union and other Member States can neither ignore nor tolerate,” commented Helen

EU urged to condemn Hungary’s limits on freedom of expression and information as part of Coronavirus crisis emergency measures2020-04-27T18:01:52+02:00