Blog

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

2022-03-30T14:03:23+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-residents2022-03-30T14:03:23+02:00

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

2022-03-11T12:52:13+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!2022-03-11T12:52:13+01:00

Es imprescindible la transparencia inmediata sobre la propiedad de las empresas para revelar la riqueza oculta de los oligarcas rusos en la UE

2022-03-10T11:22:41+01:00

Madrid, 2 de marzo de 2022 – Helen Darbishire y Rachel Hanna de Access Info Europe explican el porqué la transparencia es fundamental para garantizar la eficacia de las sanciones contra Rusia. Tras la invasión de Ucrania, ha habido indignación mundial por el flagrante desprecio de Rusia hacia el derecho internacional, los derechos humanos y el principio de soberanía de los Estados. En un intento por disuadir a Putin de intensificar la acción militar en Ucrania, la Unión Europea (UE) y sus aliados se han unido para decidir sanciones que apuntan directamente a los oligarcas rusos, congelando sus activos, que

Es imprescindible la transparencia inmediata sobre la propiedad de las empresas para revelar la riqueza oculta de los oligarcas rusos en la UE2022-03-10T11:22:41+01:00

Advocating for greater data transparency

2022-03-09T17:24:51+01:00

Global Data Barometer | 04/10/2021 English - Access Info Europe is the regional partner for the Global Data Barometer (GDB) in Europe coordinating 27 countries across Europe, the Americas, Oceania and Asia. Access Info Europe is a human rights organisation established in Madrid in 2006, dedicated to promoting and protecting the right of access to information. Access Info runs a range of projects designed to leverage the right to information in order to increase participation and accountability, to defend human rights, and to advance democracy. Read more...

Advocating for greater data transparency2022-03-09T17:24:51+01:00

Transparency to Track Hidden Wealth

2023-07-27T15:43:13+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 Wealth2023-07-27T15:43:13+02:00

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

2022-03-18T15:32:55+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!2022-03-18T15:32:55+01:00

Pandora Papers: How Long Before We Have Open Company Registers?

2022-03-07T12:09:32+01:00

SDG Watch Europe | 04/10/2021 English - Helen Darbishire, Director of Access Info Europe, reflects on what the Pandora Papers tell us about anti-corruption and integrity instruments in Europe, and calls on the European Commission to move urgently on opening up company registers. Helen is a member of the Steering Committee of the Open Government Partnership, and is Chair of the UNCAC Coalition, a global civil society network working to combat corruption. Read more...

Pandora Papers: How Long Before We Have Open Company Registers?2022-03-07T12:09:32+01:00

Call for Transparency of Discussions on the Future of Europe’s Digital Market

2022-03-03T15:55:38+01:00

Madrid, 1 March 2022 – Access Info is one of 43 organisations which today called on EU leaders to ensure full transparency of debates over the future regulation of our digital environment, including services and marketplaces online. As three-way negotiations are proceeding between the European Commission, European Parliament and the Member States in the Council of the EU, the organisations expressed concern at the lack of transparency of the texts being discussed. Rather unusually, there has been little transparency of the so-called “trilogue” negotiations on the Digital Markets and the Digital Services Acts, in spite of this being required by

Call for Transparency of Discussions on the Future of Europe’s Digital Market2022-03-03T15:55:38+01:00

La Coalición Pro Acceso ha pedido al Gobierno español más transparencia como parte de las acciones para ayudar a Ucrania

2022-03-03T15:46:17+01:00

Madrid, 3 de marzo de 2022 – Access Info Europe, junto a otra veintena de organizaciones de la Coalición Pro Acceso, han dirigido una carta al Gobierno español para pedir mejoras en la transparencia y así desenmascarar fortunas de regímenes totalitarios como el de Rusia y sus posibles actos ilícitos. En una carta enviada a la Ministra de Hacienda, María Jesús Montero, cuyo ministerio se encuentra a cargo del IV Plan de Acción de Gobierno Abierto, se ha hecho hincapié en los compromisos de este gobierno para mejorar la transparencia. En concreto, en instituciones clave donde pudiera encontrarse información de

La Coalición Pro Acceso ha pedido al Gobierno español más transparencia como parte de las acciones para ayudar a Ucrania2022-03-03T15:46:17+01:00