About Helen Darbishire

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So far Helen Darbishire has created 1914 blog entries.
14 Oct 2013

Main shortcomings of Spanish transparency law highlighted by Victoria Anderica in ‘El Objetivo’

2018-11-13T10:12:20+01:00

Madrid, 14 October 2013 – “The law does not recognise access to information as a fundamental right,…a lot of information is left out,…and the oversight body is not independent”. These three serious shortcomings of the Spanish transparency law were highlighted by Victoria Anderica of Access Info Europe on the prime time Spanish TV programme El Objetivo. In the programme, broadcast on Sunday 13 October, Victoria acknowledged that the law will help to improve the current situation in Spain, by permitting a wider transparency of public accounts. However the shortcomings in the new legislation as it stands mean that Spain will

Main shortcomings of Spanish transparency law highlighted by Victoria Anderica in ‘El Objetivo’2018-11-13T10:12:20+01:00
7 Oct 2013

Spanish Constitutional Court rejection of appeal about access to information to be taken to ECHR

2018-11-13T10:12:21+01:00

Madrid, 8 October 2013 – Access Info Europe has decided to take its appeal for access to information, denied by the Spanish Ministry of Defence, to the European Court of Human Rights after the appeal was recently rejected by the Spanish Constitutional Court. The Constitutional Court had not accepted the appeal because they said that the protection of a fundamental right had not been violated.

Spanish Constitutional Court rejection of appeal about access to information to be taken to ECHR2018-11-13T10:12:21+01:00
4 Oct 2013

Last phase of campaigning to improve Spain’s weak transparency law: Calls on Senators to act

2018-11-13T10:12:21+01:00

Madrid, 4 October 2013 – With Spain’s future transparency law open for amendments in the Senate until 8 October, Access Info has launched a last campaign for improvements. The goal is to strengthen the law’s score of 68 out of 150 on the RTI Rating, and a future position number 75 out of 96 laws globally.

Last phase of campaigning to improve Spain’s weak transparency law: Calls on Senators to act2018-11-13T10:12:21+01:00
30 Sep 2013

European Court of Justice to take final decision on public access to Council documents

2018-11-13T10:12:21+01:00

Madrid, 2 October 2013 - The European Court of Justice (ECJ) will formally announce its final ruling on the Access Info v Council of the European Union court case on 17 October 2013, after four years of legal battle. The second instance ECJ will now have the final word on whether or not it is legitimate for the Council to systematically blank out the names of Member States in documents summarising legislative negotiations before handing them out to the public. The dispute is about whether or not public access to the summaries of Council working party meetings, including details on

European Court of Justice to take final decision on public access to Council documents2018-11-13T10:12:21+01:00
30 Sep 2013

European Elections 2014: Transparency must be a priority, MEPs told

2020-01-29T11:24:56+01:00

Madrid, 2 October 2013 – In the run up to the European Parliament elections in May 2014, Access Info has today written to all 766 Members of the European Parliament informing them of opinion poll findings which show huge support for transparency in the areas such as the financial crisis and lobbying by business. Over 80 % of the public wants greater transparency in areas such as Council decision-making, legal opinions on future laws, and spending of EU funds. Access Info has also submitted to MEPs recommendations from the public which make clear that greater access to information must be

European Elections 2014: Transparency must be a priority, MEPs told2020-01-29T11:24:56+01:00
30 Sep 2013

RTI update 2013

2020-02-14T12:51:50+01:00

RTI Rating: Update and Overview of Results and Trends  Quatlity of access to information laws around the world, www.rti-rating.org 28 September 2013, Halifax/Madrid - Access Info Europe (Spain) and the Centre for Law and Democracy (Canada) are today launching a report providing an analysis of the results and trends in the global RTI Rating, which assesses the legal framework for the right to information (RTI) in every country in the world which has adopted a national RTI law. A major finding of the report is that as international standards have developed laws have got stronger. At the same time, there

RTI update 20132020-02-14T12:51:50+01:00
27 Sep 2013

ECB urged to review refusals

2018-11-13T10:12:22+01:00

Brussels, 27 September 2013 -The European Central Bank regularly invokes the need to protect monetary policy and the financial stability of the Union and its Member States when refusing access to information a report by Access Info presented in Brussels today has revealed. Requesters are often seeking information about exchanges with Member States on the financial crisis. One third (36%) of requests resulted in full or partial refusals, with just 32% of requests receiving some or all information sought. Access Info has called on the ECB to review the legitimacy of its exceptions which are not all in line with

ECB urged to review refusals2018-11-13T10:12:22+01:00
26 Sep 2013

Montenegrin Company Register must remain open to public

2018-11-13T10:12:22+01:00

Madrid, 26 September 2013 -  Access Info Europe today published an open letter calling upon the Montenegin authorities to provide full access to the national company register, and other registers without delay, after learning that it will be closed from public access on the grounds of data privacy. Access Info argues that EU data protection rules do not require the register to be inaccessible to the public. Indeed disclosure of such information is essential in any modern democratic society. Montenegro cannot ignore the trend in Europe and elsewhere towards publishing more of this kind of information, as well as the

Montenegrin Company Register must remain open to public2018-11-13T10:12:22+01:00
25 Sep 2013

Buscamos al senador más transparente #senadotransparente

2018-11-13T10:12:23+01:00

Madrid, 26 de septiembre de 2013 – El día 28 de septiembre es el Día Internacional del Derecho a Saber y lo queremos celebrar. España está aprobando en estos momentos una Ley de Transparencia (¡por fin!) y la sociedad civil está siguiendo este proceso muy de cerca para conseguir que esa norma esté a la altura de las mejores leyes del mundo.

Buscamos al senador más transparente #senadotransparente2018-11-13T10:12:23+01:00
23 Sep 2013

Data Journalism Handbook

2018-11-13T10:12:23+01:00

Madrid, 23 September 2013 - The Data Journalism Handbook, a free, openly licensed reference book showing journalists how to use data to improve the news has been translated into French, Spanish and Russian. Organised by Open Knowledge Foundation along with the European Journalism Centre, the Handbook explains not only about what data journalism is, but also how to get it, use it, understand it and how to present it. Access Info's Executive Director, Helen Darbishire, was a contributor to the access to information section of the Handbook. The Data Journalism Handbook was born at a 48 hour workshop at MozFest

Data Journalism Handbook2018-11-13T10:12:23+01:00