About Helen Darbishire

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So far Helen Darbishire has created 1914 blog entries.
6 Jun 2016

Access Info defends citizens’ right to know as part of lobby transparency reforms

2018-11-13T10:04:10+01:00

Madrid, 6 June 2016 – Access Info Europe has called on the European Union and the Council of Europe to ensure that future lobby control rules that both are in the process of developing are fully in line with The International Standards for Lobbying Regulation. In submissions to separate public consultations held by the EU and Council of Europe, the pro-transparency organisation underscored the need for lobbying regulation to ensure that full information on the activity of lobbyists is both recorded and published. In response to the EU consultation Access Info proposed EU institutions keep better records of interactions with

Access Info defends citizens’ right to know as part of lobby transparency reforms2018-11-13T10:04:10+01:00
31 May 2016

Espacio para la responsabilidad – La regulación de los lobbies

2018-11-13T10:10:40+01:00

Rtve.es | 31/05/2016 Spanish- La colalición ¡transparencia del lobby ya! es una plataforma cuyo objetivo es reivindicar e impulsar la creación de un marco regulatorio para el lobby en España basado en la transparencia, la integridad y la participación. Hemos hablado con Alba Gutiérrez de Access Info Europe. Read more...

Espacio para la responsabilidad – La regulación de los lobbies2018-11-13T10:10:40+01:00
23 May 2016

Give the Commission your views on EU lobbying!

2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00

This article was originally published by ALTER-EU. Brussels, 23 May 2015 - Do you want to see more transparency about who is lobbying who in Brussels and the EU institutions? Are you angry about the privileged access that corporate lobbyists get to EU decision-makers, whether it be on TTIP, tobacco, climate, regulation, digital rights...? The European Commission is consulting about how to improve the EU lobby transparency register with a view to revising and improving the current set-up. The consultation process is far from perfect, and the extent of the Commission's future ambition is not yet clear, but nonetheless, the

Give the Commission your views on EU lobbying!2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00
19 May 2016

Spain’s extortionate Sunshine Tax is “a final solution for renewable energy”: What do the documents tell us?

2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00

Madrid, 19 May 2016 - On the day that the news is full of the fact that Portugal this month had four straight days of zero emissions energy production using renewable sources (full story here), documents obtained by Access Info Europe using Spain’s Transparency Law reveal the tense political battles behind a controversial 2015 law that imposes prohibitive taxes on use of home-produced energy (such as from solar power). Spain – a country replete with sunshine, wind and waves – could be breaking the same records as Portugal, but instead the renewables sector has been undermined and citizens who generate

Spain’s extortionate Sunshine Tax is “a final solution for renewable energy”: What do the documents tell us?2018-11-13T10:04:11+01:00
12 May 2016

Soria copió a Endesa el intento de prohibir el autoconsumo eléctrico a los usuarios más vulnerables

2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

El Diario | 12/05/2016 Spanish Industria incluyó en uno de los últimos borradores del decreto de autoconsumo dos párrafos que había sugerido la eléctrica. Tras las protestas de diversos sectores, el Ministerio se echó atrás y acabó permitiendo autoconsumir a clientes con bono social o tarifa regulada de la luz. Iberdrola expuso en julio de 2013 argumentos a favor del 'impuesto al sol' luego replicados en un estudio de FAES, la fundación del PP. Read more...

Soria copió a Endesa el intento de prohibir el autoconsumo eléctrico a los usuarios más vulnerables2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00
12 May 2016

Spain: NGOs go to court to obtain documents about lobbying on a controversial energy law

2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

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

Spain: NGOs go to court to obtain documents about lobbying on a controversial energy law2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00
11 May 2016

EU Ombudsman: Public figures should expect a high degree of transparency about their professional competence

2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00

Madrid/Brussels, 10 May 2016 – In an important Decision from the European Ombudsman, Emily O’Reilly has said that data relating to the professional competence and activities of public figures, especially those appointed to a high level public posts, may not require the same level of protection as might apply to personal data in other circumstances. Access Info Europe and the HEC-NYU EU Public Interest Clinic welcomed the Ombudsman’s Decision on their complaint about the lack of transparency in the selection process for judges to the European Union Court of Justice (ECJ). “The public has a right to know if the

EU Ombudsman: Public figures should expect a high degree of transparency about their professional competence2018-11-13T10:10:41+01:00
11 May 2016

“Impuesto revolucionario”, “solución final”… las críticas de las CCAA del PP al decreto de autoconsumo

2018-11-13T10:10:42+01:00

El Diario | 11/05/2016 Spanish - “Impuesto revolucionario”, “decepcionante”, “injustificado”, “desorbitado” o "solución final" para las renovables. Son algunos de los calificativos que emplearon en julio de 2013 varias comunidades autónomas gobernadas por el PP para arremeter contra la propuesta de Real Decreto para regular el autoconsumo que el Ministerio de Industria les había hecho llegar en esas fechas por vía de urgencia. Read more...  

“Impuesto revolucionario”, “solución final”… las críticas de las CCAA del PP al decreto de autoconsumo2018-11-13T10:10:42+01:00
10 May 2016

Sssh… El plan español sobre empresas y derechos humanos es alto secreto

2018-11-13T10:10:42+01:00

El País | 10/05/2016 Spanish- Han pasado más de tres años desde que venció la fecha dada por la Comisión Europea a los Estados Miembros para que concretaran en planes nacionales cómo iban a implementar los Principios Rectores sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos de la ONU. España no ha cumplido y, según el Gobierno, los ciudadanos no tenemos derecho a saber porqué. Read more...

Sssh… El plan español sobre empresas y derechos humanos es alto secreto2018-11-13T10:10:42+01:00