About Helen Darbishire

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So far Helen Darbishire has created 1914 blog entries.
26 May 2011

15 May Movement Demands Access to Information Law in Spain

2018-11-13T10:13:32+01:00

Madrid 26th May – Last week the squares of Spanish cities were “taken” by the Spanish youth who are calling for “real democracy” and an end to corruption in the face of a system that they feel is failing them on the economy, welfare, and citizen representation. Citizens camped out in Madrid’s central square Puerta de Sol, fed up with the governments’ business-as-usual attitude to these problems, are taking matters into their own hands. The increasingly organised movement has this week formed a working group, “Transparency Law Now!” dedicated exclusively to campaigning for progress on the gridlocked Spanish access to

15 May Movement Demands Access to Information Law in Spain2018-11-13T10:13:32+01:00
26 May 2011

Open data Challenge 2011

2018-11-13T10:13:32+01:00

Access Info Europe in the jury of the Open Data Challenge Access info Europe will be part of the jury that decides the winners of this year’s Open Data Challenge. The OD Challenge is a competition on how to reuse European public data for building new useful applications. This competition is organized by the Open Knowledge Foundation and is taking place until the 5th of June and the winners will be announced at the European Digital Assembly in Brussels that will take place on the 16th and 17 of June. For further information on this completion please check the official

Open data Challenge 20112018-11-13T10:13:32+01:00
9 May 2011

Open Cyprus proyect: Pegeia Council

2018-11-13T10:13:32+01:00

The Open Cyprus Project calls on Pegeia Council to respect the right of access to environmental information 4 May 2011, Nicosia: This call comes after the Pegeia Council refused the request of Councillor Linda Leblanc for a copy of planning permits for a controversial new coastal development. According to the information received by the Open Cyprus project, there are systematic failures to provide information by Pegeia Council. The refusal to Councillor Leblanc's request, is a breach of the right of access to environmental information, regulated by an EU directive and a national law in the Republic of Cyprus. Additionally, local

Open Cyprus proyect: Pegeia Council2018-11-13T10:13:32+01:00
19 Apr 2011

data retention not effective

2018-11-13T10:13:33+01:00

Insufficient info undermines EU claims on value of data retention 18 EU states fail to provide full statistics on use of personal data in fighting crime 18 April 2011, Madrid – There are serious risks associated with the massive invasion of personal privacy required by the EU’s 2006 Data Retention Directive whilst there is no strong evidence that is an effective instrument against crime according to the leaked version of an EU report to be lauched officially today.

data retention not effective2018-11-13T10:13:33+01:00
5 Apr 2011

petition on biometrics

2018-11-13T10:13:33+01:00

Council of Europe urged to make use of biometric data more transparent 31 March 2011 – In response to concerns that European governments are collecting increasing amounts of biometric data from members of the public, Access Info Europe has joined an international civil society alliance in calling on the Council of Europe to collect and publish information about the legal framework regulating biometrics.

petition on biometrics2018-11-13T10:13:33+01:00
31 Mar 2011

Your feedback

2020-02-14T12:44:07+01:00

Feedback One of the ways in which Access Info can measure the impact it is having is through your responses to our emails. Below you will find some reactions to our work on the European Union, particularly the successful Court Case against the Council of the EU, and The Secret State of EU Transparency Reforms report. "It surprises us time and time again how governments committed to transparency by rethoric forget its importance when it comes to them. It is sad that often judicial decisions to remind governments whom they represent and to whom they are accountable. We need to

Your feedback2020-02-14T12:44:07+01:00
22 Mar 2011

Court Ruling EU Council Documents

2018-11-13T10:13:33+01:00

General Court of the European Union rules refusal illegitimate Access Info wins case against Council on open legislative procedure 22 March 2011: The General Court of the European Union today found that the Council of the EU wrongly refused to disclose the identity of countries taking positions on reform of the EU’s access to documents rules. Ruling on an application brought by Access Info Europe, the Court found that the Council had “in no way demonstrated” how publication of the country names would “seriously undermine its decision-making process”. The Court stated that “If citizens are to be able to exercise

Court Ruling EU Council Documents2018-11-13T10:13:33+01:00
20 Mar 2011

Secret State EU Transparency

2018-11-13T10:13:33+01:00

The Secret State of EU Transparency Reforms 16 of 27 Member States refuse to provide information on EU transparency negotiations Brussels/Madrid, Monday 21 March 2011: European citizens can’t find out from either Brussels or from national governments which countries are lobbying against EU transparency, according to a report launched by the NGO Access Info Europe this week. The report is launched just before an expected ruling by the European Court of Justice on 22 March in the case of Access Info Europe vs. the Council. The pro-transparency organization is challenging the Council’s concealment of Member State positions on the reform

Secret State EU Transparency2018-11-13T10:13:33+01:00
17 Mar 2011

Spanish government to decide on transparency law in one month

2018-11-13T10:13:34+01:00

Meeting with Ministry of Presidency secures commitment on draft law Madrid, 17 march 2011- A meeting held today between Spain’s Ministry of the Presidency and civil society organisations of Spain’s Coalicion Pro Acceso resulted in a commitment to provide, within one month, information on whether or not the Spanish government will pass the draft transparency law to the parliament. After explaining the delays in the adoption of the law given, amongst other things, other urgent matters facing government, Minister Ramón Jáuregui assured the Coalition that the law has not been definitively shelved, and that during the coming month he will

Spanish government to decide on transparency law in one month2018-11-13T10:13:34+01:00
10 Mar 2011

Successful Twitter Campaign: Getting a meeting with Spain’s Ministry of the Presidency

2018-11-13T10:13:34+01:00

On 8 March 2011, Access Info Europe launched its first Twitter campaign asking for information about the status of Spain’s access to information law from the Ministry of the Presidency. During the day around 300 people sent a tweet to the recently inaugurated Twitter profile of the Ministry, with the message “Where is the transparency law?” The ministry responded rapidly, by phoning Access Info Europe and offering a meeting between Minister Ramón Jáuregui and representatives of the NGO platform the Coalición Pro Acceso on 17 March.

Successful Twitter Campaign: Getting a meeting with Spain’s Ministry of the Presidency2018-11-13T10:13:34+01:00