Blog – Page 78 – Access Info Europe

Civil Society Highlight Need for Public Bodies in Poland to be More Transparent

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

Madrid, 28 July 2014 - The Polish central government and voivodships provided less access to information than local governments despite obligations under Polish law, according to research carried out to verify the practical enforcement of citizens' right to access to public information. The research, carried out by Association "Cities on the Internet" with expertise input from Access Info Europe, examined more than 100 public bodies around Poland leading to recommendations on how to improve the law, and to the creation of a Transparency Index ranking institutional fulfillment of current obligations under the right of access to information. “The results of

Civil Society Highlight Need for Public Bodies in Poland to be More TransparentHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

The In ‘t Veld Ruling: Raising the Bar for Denying Access to EU Documents

Helen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:25:20+01:00

Madrid, 25 July 2014 - Helen Darbishire and Pamela Bartlett of Access Info Europe analyse the wider consequences of the recent European Court of Justice ruling, which will make it harder to deny access to EU documents relating to international relations or to containing legal advice. The 3 July 2014 pro-transparency ruling by the European Court of Justice in the legal battle for access to negotiations between the European Union and the United States on sharing financial transaction data in order to fight terrorism, will make it harder for the EU to deny access to documents relating to international relations

The In ‘t Veld Ruling: Raising the Bar for Denying Access to EU DocumentsHelen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:25:20+01:00

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

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:45+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 PartnershipHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

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

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:45+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 registerHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:45+01:00

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

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+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 chargesHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

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

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+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 agendaHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

Concerns about EMA’s transparency backtrack on clinical trials data

Helen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:25:11+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 dataHelen Darbishire2020-01-29T11:25:11+01:00

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

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+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 organisationsHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

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

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+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 industryHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00

The revolving door phenomenon

Helen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+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 phenomenonHelen Darbishire2018-11-13T10:11:46+01:00