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About Helen Darbishire

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So far Helen Darbishire has created 1914 blog entries.
16 Jul 2014

Civil society call on the EU institutions to join the Open Government Partnership

2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

Madrid, 16 July - Access Info Europe has joined over 50 other signatories, including networks and coalitions, calling upon the European Union to closely engage and eventually join the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initative. The letter sent earlier this month asks the EU to commit to uphold the same inclusion, transparency and accountability standards that they ask of others both inside and outside the Union. It will help bridge the gap between the EU and its citizens, and enhance the EU’s credibility in its international efforts to improve the quality of governance in third countries by empowering citizens through participation.

Civil society call on the EU institutions to join the Open Government Partnership2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00
16 Jul 2014

New Commission President Juncker Commits to Transparency on Trade Deals and to a mandatory EU lobby register

2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

Madrid, 16 July 2014 - Access Info Europe welcomed the commitment made today by new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to transparency of decision making, particularly with respect to lobbying and international trade negotiations, and to enacting a mandatory register of lobbyists. The commitment by Juncker at his confirmation hearing in the European Parliament included specific references to transparency during all steps of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations, something which Access Info Europe along with over 250 civil society groups have been calling for since the negotiations began. Following the speech, Access Info made a request through

New Commission President Juncker Commits to Transparency on Trade Deals and to a mandatory EU lobby register2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00
15 Jul 2014

Civil society welcomes withdrawal of upfront FOI fees in Ireland, but concerns remain over charges

2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

Madrid/Dublin, 16 July 2014 - Access Info Europe has welcomed the Irish government's decision to withdraw upfront fees for access to information (also known as FOI) requests. The decision comes after extensive campaigning by Irish and international civil society organisations, and by not charging upfront fees would bring Ireland into line with international standards. The specialist transparency organisation expressed caution however, over other charges which still may apply and which do not follow standards on access to information. For example, charges for searching and retrieving information for more than 5 hours remain, as well as charges to make internal reviews

Civil society welcomes withdrawal of upfront FOI fees in Ireland, but concerns remain over charges2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00
15 Jul 2014

MEPs urged to push lobby transparency to top of Juncker’s agenda

2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

Brussels, 15 July 2014 - Access Info Europe as part of ALTER-EU is calling upon Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to ensure that improvements in the area of lobby transparency, conflicts of interest, and ethics are placed high on the agenda of the new European Commission, as they prepare to quiz its president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker today. During the recent EU elections, 177 elected MEPs signed ALTER-EU's Politics for People pledge in which they committed to “stand-up for citizens and democracy against the excessive lobbying influence of banks and big business” upon entering office. “Our opinion poll showed 73% of

MEPs urged to push lobby transparency to top of Juncker’s agenda2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00
9 Jul 2014

Concerns about EMA’s transparency backtrack on clinical trials data

2020-01-29T11:25:11+01:00

Madrid, 9 July 2014 – The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is considering adopting a policy on access to clinical trials data which imposes stricter confidentiality requirements and restricts citizens’ ability to exercise the right of access to documents. The proposed policy on proactive publication of clinical trial data has caused concern for Access Info Europe and other civil society organizations, who fear that the EMA’s ‘Terms of Use’ and ‘Redaction Principles’ would constitute a step backwards for EU transparency. Health organisations and the European Ombudsman were some of the first to express their concerns on the matter [1].

Concerns about EMA’s transparency backtrack on clinical trials data2020-01-29T11:25:11+01:00
2 Jul 2014

Cypriot draft access to information law needs significant improvement according to civil society organisations

2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

Madrid/Nicosia, 3 July 2014 - Access Info Europe has called upon the Republic of Cyprus to significantly improve the recently proposed draft law on access to information to come into line with international standards, in recommendations submitted as part of a public consultation. In the submission made this week to the consultation, Access Info welcomed the decision of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to propose the adoption of a legal framework to facilitate the exercise of the right of access to information. The civil society organisation did make it clear that the scope of the current text however,

Cypriot draft access to information law needs significant improvement according to civil society organisations2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00
27 Jun 2014

’25 gramos’ Campaign launch: Misinformation, advertising and revolving doors with the sugar industry

2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

Madrid, 27 June 2014 – In order to lift the lid on the lack of transparency around the decision making process with the sugar industry in Spain, Access Info Europe has joined the ’25 gramos’ campaign at its launch held this week. It is particularly difficult to find out who is taking part in, and influencing the decision-making process regarding sugar as there is currently no regulation in Spain to ensure lobbying transparency. As part of the campaign, Access Info Europe with Spanish civil society organisation Fundación Ciudadana Civio will investigate the transparency around sugar industry lobbying, a powerful food

’25 gramos’ Campaign launch: Misinformation, advertising and revolving doors with the sugar industry2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00
26 Jun 2014

The revolving door phenomenon

2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

Madrid, 26 June 2014 - The book 'El lobby en España. ¿asignatura pendiente?' ('Lobbying in Spain, a pending issue?') – developed by the Foro Empresarial APRI and published by Algón Editores – will be presented today in the Political and Constitutional Studies Centre in Madrid. Access Info Europe collaborated in the book with a chapter about revolving doors. It is a collective work that analyses the role played by lobbies, the needs they represent, the public costs that their absence would carry, the existing alternatives for their regulation, and the effects caused by the lack of it; it is a

The revolving door phenomenon2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00
25 Jun 2014

Legal Leaks training in Podgorica focuses on media self-regulation and access to information

2018-11-13T10:11:47+01:00

Podgorica, 14 June 2014 - "There is a weak culture of investigative journalism in Montenegro, with young journalists not being encouraged by editors to use the access to information law," stated participants in last week’s Legal Leaks training in Podgorica. Long timeframes for responding to requests for information and complex appeals procedures were also concerns raised by the participants in the training, which took place on 12 and 13 June 2014 and was organized by UNESCO in cooperation with Access Info Europe, the Media Self-Regulation Council and South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM). The event gathered around

Legal Leaks training in Podgorica focuses on media self-regulation and access to information2018-11-13T10:11:47+01:00
25 Jun 2014

Legal Leaks training in Belgrade: Truth seeking requires skills

2018-11-13T10:11:47+01:00

Belgrade, 18 June 2014 - Belgrade was the fifth and last stop of the Legal Leaks training tour for media professionals in South East Europe. The workshop held on 16 and 17 June 2014 was opened by Rodoljub Sabic, Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection in Serbia, who highlighted the importance of journalists for public debate and the need for access to information to reinforce the role they play in the society. "Truth seeking requires skills," he told the around 30 journalists from around the country. The event was organized by UNESCO in cooperation with Access

Legal Leaks training in Belgrade: Truth seeking requires skills2018-11-13T10:11:47+01:00
Original content developed by Access Info Europe and is made public under a Creative Commons Attribution, Share Alike licence.