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OGP countries need to take the Right to Information seriously

2018-11-13T10:12:18+01:00

Halifax/Madrid, 1 November 2013 - Global right to information organisations Access Info Europe (AIE) and the Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) today called on Open Government Partnership (OGP) Participating Countries to make serious commitments to strengthen their right to information laws in the next round of action plans, due to be presented in April 2014. One of the biggest concerns at the London OGP summit is that governments are not making commitments which will move them beyond the current situation and that they are not being ambitious or “stretching” with planned reforms. This concern is particularly acute in relation

OGP countries need to take the Right to Information seriously2018-11-13T10:12:18+01:00

Non-financial reporting: concerns over weakening of the EU proposals on corporate transparency

2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Brussels, 28 October 2013 – In April 2013 the EU Commission launched a reform to improve corporate transparency on environmental and human rights matters. The European Coalition for Corporate Justice , which Access Info is a member of, welcomed the initiative as a first step towards corporate accountability, while highlighting the loopholes in the proposed changes. What follows is an update from the ECCJ coalition secretariat on the status of the EU negotiations; if passed, the Non-Financial Reporting Directive has the potential to increase the amount of information available to the public about the impacts businesses have on human rights

Non-financial reporting: concerns over weakening of the EU proposals on corporate transparency2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Access Info and ALTER EU launch a petition calling for full EU lobby transparency

2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Access Info and ALTER EU launch a petition calling for full EU lobby transparency Brussels/Madrid, 29 October 2013 – Access Info as part of the ALTER-EU coalition of civil society organisations have launched a petition for citizens to call for a mandatory and detailed lobby register for the European Union. The petition is being sent to Rainer Wieland MEP, European Parliament Vice-President for Transparency and chair of the group to review the EU lobby register. Sign the petition here!

Access Info and ALTER EU launch a petition calling for full EU lobby transparency2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Introducing the ‘Legal Leaks’ toolkit

2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Journalists play a central role in initiating and stimulating public debates but face constant challenges in accessing information from public bodies, particularly when that information relates to issues such as corruption and organised crime, violations of human rights, controversial international relations, environmental contamination, relationships with business and lobby groups, and the more sensitive aspects of EU integration. Legal Leaks helps to empower journalists to recoup their role as public watchdogs through exercise of their right of access to information in both their own country and other countries. The Legal Leaks toolkit has been designed for journalists working in any media

Introducing the ‘Legal Leaks’ toolkit2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Open Government Partnership: Civil society challenges Spain’s self assessment of open government commitments

2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Madrid, 28 October 2013 - Within the framework of the Open Government Partnership, Spain has submitted its self-assessment of its open government commitments made in the April 2012 national action plan. Access Info Europe considers that this first action plan introduced by Spain as well as its self-assessment are of low quality and therefore will accomplish little in Spain's development towards a more open government. On the one hand, the action plan introduced has only four relevant commitments that will directly affect Open Government development in Spain: The approval of a Transparency Law, the Transparency and Accountability of Official Development

Open Government Partnership: Civil society challenges Spain’s self assessment of open government commitments2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Congratulations from the European Parliament and Michael Cashman on the ECJ ruling, Council v Access Info Europe

2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

  Madrid, 22 October 2013 – The European Parliament has issued a statement 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 stating that EU citizens need a clearer and wider access to the decision-making process. 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.

Congratulations from the European Parliament and Michael Cashman on the ECJ ruling, Council v Access Info Europe2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Civil society outlines concerns to DG Enlargement about Montenegrin efforts to combat corruption

2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

Podgorica/Madrid, 23 October 2013 - Today, Access Info with Montenegrin and international civil society organisations outlined concerns about Montenegro's efforts to combat corruption and organised crime, highlighting the reduction of information publically available on the national company register, in a letter sent to Mr. Dirk Lange, the Head of Unit for Montenegro within the European Commission's Directorate General for Enlargement. The recent actions of the Montenegrin government will undermine and challenge efforts by civil society organizations and media to investigate cases of corruption and organised crime and to hold government to account. "We note that, while the police and prosecution

Civil society outlines concerns to DG Enlargement about Montenegrin efforts to combat corruption2018-11-13T10:12:19+01:00

European Court of Justice rules in favour of greater transparency of the Council of the EU

2018-11-13T10:12:20+01:00

Opinion and Comment by the Access Info International Advisory Board Madrid, 22 October 2013 - After the landmark final ruling last week by the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) that completely dismissed the Council of the European Union's appeal, in a five year battle over making public access to documents containing proposals by Member States during the negotiations on the revision of Regulation 1049/2001, the Advisory Board of Access Info Europe offer their opinions and comments to the importance of this case for the right of access to information in Europe and globally. Daniel Bezares, Access Info

European Court of Justice rules in favour of greater transparency of the Council of the EU2018-11-13T10:12:20+01:00

European Court of Justice rules in favour of greater transparency of the Council of the EU

2018-11-13T10:12:20+01:00

Madrid/Luxembourg, 17 October 2013 — In a case brought by Access Info Europe, the European Court of Justice today rejected arguments by the Council of the European Union that it should be able to keep secret the identities of Member States making proposals in the context of negotiations on future EU legislation. This is the final ruling – by the highest court of the EU - in an important legal battle for greater transparency of the legislative process in Brussels in line with the EU treaties which require the European Parliament and the Council to "ensure publication of the documents

European Court of Justice rules in favour of greater transparency of the Council of the EU2018-11-13T10:12:20+01:00

Main shortcomings of Spanish transparency law highlighted by Victoria Anderica in ‘El Objetivo’

2018-11-13T10:12:20+01:00

Madrid, 14 October 2013 – “The law does not recognise access to information as a fundamental right,…a lot of information is left out,…and the oversight body is not independent”. These three serious shortcomings of the Spanish transparency law were highlighted by Victoria Anderica of Access Info Europe on the prime time Spanish TV programme El Objetivo. In the programme, broadcast on Sunday 13 October, Victoria acknowledged that the law will help to improve the current situation in Spain, by permitting a wider transparency of public accounts. However the shortcomings in the new legislation as it stands mean that Spain will

Main shortcomings of Spanish transparency law highlighted by Victoria Anderica in ‘El Objetivo’2018-11-13T10:12:20+01:00
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