ADVOCATING FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN THE EU
WE SHINE A LIGHT ON EU INSTITUTIONS AND DECISION MAKING
WE PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY IN EU DECISION MAKING...
since citizens have the right to know about how decisions are takenWE TACKLE THE
ABUSIVE APPLICATION
OF EXCEPTIONS...
because only in limited cases should the EU apply exceptions to access WE CHALLENGE
PRACTICAL OBSTACLES TO
ACCESS INFORMATION...
so that submitting requests is simple and straightforward for everyone
OUR LATEST UPDATES ON EU TRANSPARENCY
European Commission formalises commitment to public travel expenses
Madrid, 2 February 2018 - The European Commission has formalised its commitment, first pledged in September 2017, to make public the travel expenses of the Commissioners: on 31 January 2018 the new Code of Conduct for the Members of the European Commission was published and it confirms that mission expenses will be published every two months. This commitment in the
Access Info calls for greater transparency of Council of the EU in submission to European Ombudsman
Madrid, 3 January 2018 – Access Info has recommended that the Council of the European Union significantly increase transparency of the legislative process, in particular by providing the public with details on the positions that EU Member States take in negotiations on legislation. These recommendations were submitted to the European Ombudsman’s consultation held as part of her enquiry into transparency
European Ombudsman Decision: Commission should stop requiring requesters to provide postal addresses
Madrid, 20 December 2017 – In response to a complaint by Access Info Europe, the European Ombudsman has concluded that the European Commission’s practice of verifying the identity of persons making requests for access to documents by asking for their postal addresses is “disrespectful of citizens and their fundamental rights under the EU Charter” and constitutes "maladministration". The Ombudsman's formal
Secrecy surrounding selection of EU Judges challenged in complaint to European Ombudsman
Madrid/Brussels, 20 November 2017 - Access Info Europe, represented by the EU Public Interest Clinic and The Good Lobby, has submitted a new complaint to the European Ombudsman about the refusal of the Council of the EU to disclose the opinions on the candidates’ suitability to become members of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). For each
Review process tackling MEPs allowances avoids public scrutiny
Madrid, 17 October 2017 - Access Info Europe has criticised the European Parliament’s refusal to disclose information in full relating to the revision of Member of the European Parliament’s General Expenditure Allowance (GEA), following an access to EU documents request. The Parliament Bureau’s ‘Ad hoc Working Group on the GEA’ denied access to a note containing the background, advice, and
Transparency is core feature of new Council of Europe Guidelines on participation
Madrid, 5 October 2017 – Access Info Europe has welcomed the inclusion of core access to information principles in the Council of Europe’s Guidelines on public participation in decision making. The Guidelines, published last week on the eve of Right to Know Day (27 September 2017), include two of the pro-transparency organisation’s recommendations submitted during the 2016 public consultation: the