Madrid, 27 July 2015 – Access Info Europe, the Open Society European Policy Institute, and Publish What You Fund have sent a letter endorsed by 50 organisations from around the world, calling on Members of the European Parliament to encourage the European Union to sign up to the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
The OGP is a 65-country multi-stakeholder initiative that brings together champions of democratic reform from governments, parliaments, international organisations, civil society and the private sector. Its members include 20 EU member states, 5 candidate countries and another 9 European Neighbourhood countries.
The letter emphasises the benefits that OGP membership could bring to the EU, including renewed social and civic engagement and restored public trust in European institutions.
The European Ombudsman has called on the EU to join the OGP as part of the process of making its institutions more open, accountable, and responsive.
“EU membership of the OGP will give a clear message from Brussels that it is serious about its commitment to transparency and accountability towards Europe’s 505 million citizens” stated Helen Darbishire, Executive Director of Access Info Europe.
With the OGP’s global summit coming up in October in Mexico, this is a perfect moment for the EU to commit to joining the initiative, which is a premier forum for advancing good practices on the right of access to information, open data, and participation.
“The OGP is also a forum where the EU can contribute to setting standards on open government globally,” Darbishire added.
A copy of the letter can be found here: 