Madrid 12 May 2016 – Two Spanish NGOs are challenging in court a decision by the Transparency Council granting only partial access to lobby documents submitted during elaboration of a controversial 2015 Law that imposes prohibitive taxes on use of home-produced energy (such as from solar power).
Access Info Europe and the Platform for a New Energy Model in December 2015 had requested all documents submitted by third parties to the Ministry of Industry; the Ministry denied access on the grounds that the documents are “internal”, invoking one of the most problematic provisions of Spain’s 2013 Transparency Law.
The Transparency Council access to documents submitted during a formal public consultation but failed to rule on access to other documents that may have been submitted by lobbyists.
“Given the concerns about heavy lobbying by the energy industry, there is a strong public interest in having a full and clear picture of the decision-making process that underpins this law,” commented Helen Darbishire, Executive Director of Access Info.
The Litigation is being supported by pro bono legal support as part of an agreement that Access Info Europe has with Transparency International Spain and the General Council of Spanish Lawyers.
All documents obtained by Access Info Europe and the Platform for a New Energy Model through their FOI request are available in a Dropbox folder here.
For more information please contact:
Helen Darbishire | Access Info Europe
Send an e-mail or call +34 913 656 558