<\/p>\n
Madrid, 22 October 2013<\/em> – The European Parliament has issued a statement<\/a> welcoming the 17 October 2013 ruling by the European Court of Justice in the case of Council v Access Info Europe Case C-280\/11 P<\/a> stating that EU citizens need a clearer and wider access to the decision-making process.<\/p>\n The European Parliament had joined Access Info Europe in defending against attempts by the Council of the EU to quash a 2011 its 2001 win before the General Court which ruled that the NGO should have full access to Council documents.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n MEP Michael Cashman, who has been a strong defender of the right of access to EU documents and has worked to improve the existing rules, stated: \u00abI congratulate Access Info Europe for helping, through this case, to clarify EU legislation and keeping all of us accountable. I am proud our House has stood by EU citizens and stood for what it has been continuously fighting for: more transparency of the decision-making process.\u00bb<\/em><\/p>\n The European Parliament statement says that the decision should \u00abopen the eyes of Member States to the necessity to update EU legislation on access to documents.\u00bb<\/p>\n