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So far Helen Darbishire has created 1914 blog entries.
27 Feb 2013

What is going on in Spain?

2018-11-13T10:12:48+01:00

Madrid, 27 February 2013 – The picture says it all: a government embattled by corruption scandals is so reluctant to answer questions that it puts journalists in a separate room during a press conference. This happened on 2 February 2013 for a press conference given by Spanish premier Mariano Rajoy. The objective was to avoid being put on the spot by uncomfortable questions about the governing Popular Party’s finances. It’s sometimes hard to follow what is going on in Spain: The leading political party and even the royal household are embroiled in corruption scandals. In response, everyone is talking about

What is going on in Spain?2018-11-13T10:12:48+01:00
22 Feb 2013

EU Transparency on Trial

2018-11-13T10:12:48+01:00

Luxembourg, 21 February 2013 – At a public hearing before the Court of Justice of the European Union in Luxembourg on Thursday 21 February 2013, the Council of the European Union argued that secrecy about the positions of different Member States is necessary for its “effectiveness”. Specifically, the Council defended withholding from Access Info Europe in 2008 the names of Member States in a document which contained proposals to revise the EU’s access to documents rules in a way which would limit EU transparency.

EU Transparency on Trial2018-11-13T10:12:48+01:00
19 Feb 2013

European Monitoring Launched: The Transparency of Policing Protests

2018-11-13T10:12:48+01:00

Madrid, 19 February 2013 – Concerned at the lack of transparency around the growing use of force by police in protest situations, Access Info Europe has presented access to information requests in 41 countries, asking for details ranging from the use of equipment such as rubber bullets, batons and water cannons, to training of police officers and evaluation reports on the policing of protests. In the context of the economic crisis, Europe is seeing a rising number of street protests, some of which have been accompanied by violence. It is essential that civil society and the media have sufficient information

European Monitoring Launched: The Transparency of Policing Protests2018-11-13T10:12:48+01:00
19 Feb 2013

La Coalición Pro Acceso pide una mejora integral del proyecto de ley de transparencia

2018-11-13T10:12:49+01:00

De aprobarse con su contenido actual, es papel mojado Madrid 19 de febrero de 2013 – La Coalición Pro Acceso, que reúne a 65 organizaciones, hace un llamamiento a realizar una mejora integral al proyecto de ley de transparencia ya que, de aprobarse como está, perpetuará la opacidad que rige la vida pública española. De esta manera, se exige que no se excluya del debate a una sociedad civil que lleva desde 2006 divulgando sus planteamientos de manera estructurada.

La Coalición Pro Acceso pide una mejora integral del proyecto de ley de transparencia2018-11-13T10:12:49+01:00
14 Feb 2013

Amid confusion over French participation in the OGP: Access Info calls on France to join.

2018-11-13T10:12:49+01:00

Morgane Dussud, Madrid, 15 February 2013 – Access Info Europe calls upon the French government to make clear its position on participation in the Open Government Partnership and to take steps to join the multilateral, multi-stakeholder initiative. As part of work around the Open Government Standards project, Access Info has been evaluating the current confused relationship between non-member France and the OGP.

Amid confusion over French participation in the OGP: Access Info calls on France to join.2018-11-13T10:12:49+01:00
14 Feb 2013

European Ombudsman investigates Commission’s alleged failure to tackle the Revolving Door

2018-11-13T10:12:49+01:00

European Ombudsman investigates Commission’s alleged failure to tackle the Revolving Door Brussels, 14 February 2013 – Access Info’s steering committee colleagues Corporate Europe Observatory, Greenpeace, Lobbycontrol and Spinwatch, have together submitted a complaint to the European Ombudsman about the Commission’s repeated refusal to deal adequately with the potential conflicts of interest that could arise from the revolving door phenomenon. The complaint documents ten high-level cases in which staff rules have been breached, or where the Commission has clearly failed to ensure staff were aware of, or complied with the rules. The organisations that submitted the complaint argue that such cases

European Ombudsman investigates Commission’s alleged failure to tackle the Revolving Door2018-11-13T10:12:49+01:00
13 Feb 2013

El Gobierno esquiva incluir a los partidos en la Ley de Transparencia

2018-11-13T10:12:49+01:00

Madrid, 13 de febrero de 2013 – El Presidente del Gobierno, Mariano Rajoy, ha respondido esta mañana en sesión plenaria del Congreso de los Diputados a pregunta del grupo UPyD que va a “promover que los criterios de la Ley de Transparencia se apliquen a los partidos políticos”. Las organizaciones impulsoras de Tuderechoasaber.es, Access Info Europe y la Fundación Ciudadana Civio, consideramos que esta nueva postura constituye una buena noticia, pero no es lo suficientemente concreta ni ambiciosa. “Promover la aplicación a los partidos políticos de unos criterios todavía sin definir no cambiará la situación de opacidad de sus cuentas

El Gobierno esquiva incluir a los partidos en la Ley de Transparencia2018-11-13T10:12:49+01:00
1 Feb 2013

European survey reveals Spanish greatly concerned about transparency, ethics and regulation of lobbying

2018-11-13T10:12:50+01:00

Madrid, 31 January 2013 — In the midst of a major scandal involving possible irregular payments to leading members of Spain’s governing party using money from major companies, a European opinion poll conducted just a few days ago reveals that 82% of Spaniards believe that lobbying from the business sector may lead to government policies which are not in the public interest. Also conducted in Austria, France, the Netherlands, the UK and the Czech Republic, the survey asked about the influence and regulation of lobbying in Europe. In response to this poll, 80% of Spaniards said that they believed that lobbyists

European survey reveals Spanish greatly concerned about transparency, ethics and regulation of lobbying2018-11-13T10:12:50+01:00
31 Jan 2013

Carta al Director de Gobierno Abierto de Navarra: “La reciente Ley Foral de Transparencia restringe el acceso a la información”

2021-08-30T12:44:32+02:00

Madrid, 31 de enero 2013 — La organización Access Info Europe y la Fundación Ciudadana Civio, impulsoras del proyecto tuderechoasaber.es, enviaron una carta a Valentín Elizondo Nevares, Director General de Gobierno Abierto y Nuevas Tecnologías de Navarra, para expresar su preocupación por el retroceso que supone la Ley Floral de Transparencia y Gobierno Abierto recién adoptada.

Carta al Director de Gobierno Abierto de Navarra: “La reciente Ley Foral de Transparencia restringe el acceso a la información”2021-08-30T12:44:32+02:00
31 Jan 2013

European poll shows considerable concern about EU Ethics

2020-01-29T11:24:40+01:00

European poll reveals widespread concern about EU Transparency   Vast majority of people want more transparency, ethics and lobbying regulation Brussels, 31 January 2013 – A majority of people across Europe are concerned about ethics and lobbying in European Union policy-making, and want better regulation of lobbyists, as well as increased transparency of the EU, according to a new opinion poll. [1] The poll conducted by TNS opinion, and completed by over 6,000 people in six European countries, reveals that three quarters (73%) of respondents are concerned that lobbyists representing the business sector have too much influence

European poll shows considerable concern about EU Ethics2020-01-29T11:24:40+01:00