Threat to EU transparency grows as trilogues begin on access to EU documents Madrid, 11 May 2012 – The threat that the right of access to information from European Union bodies will be reduced moved a step closer to reality yesterday (10 May 2012) when the 27 Member States approved a document from the Danish EU Presidency which would add broad exceptions to the existing rules. The 10 May document obtained today (11 May 2012) by Access Info Europe shows that the “compromise” position adopted by the ambassadors of the EU 27 includes: • Limiting and narrowing the definition of

España debe comprometerse con la transparencia en la reforma del Reglamento europeo Madrid, 11 abril 2012 – Hoy, Access Info Europe y Ecologistas en Acción han instado al gobierno español a que se posicione claramente a favor de una mayor transparencia dentro de la Unión Europea, en consonancia con el actual proceso abierto para aprobar la ley estatal de transparencia. El Reglamento europeo de Acceso a Documentos (1049/2001) permite a los ciudadanos presentar solicitudes de acceso a los documentos de la Unión Europea directamente a las instituciones y les obliga a responder en un plazo de 15 días. Actualmente está

Renewed Threat on Access to EU Documents – EU Transparency Campaign 10 April 2012 – After a series of inter-governmental negotiations, fears that Member States are using the reform of the EU access to documents regulation as an opportunity to add new exceptions and to weaken the right of access to EU document have recently been renewed by a Council document, dated 30 March 2012, which outlines the “state of play” of the reform process. The paper mentions the very real possibility that new, blanket exceptions for documents “requiring special protection” would be introduced into the Regulation. This would affect

EU Transparency Campaign on the reform of EU access to documents Regulation Access Info Europe is calling for civil society support for the campaign on the reform of the EU access to documents Regulation, which aims to strengthen the right of access to EU documents or, at the very least, to avoid any narrowing of the current right of access to documents. Access Info Europe has prepared a briefing paper setting out the key points where reform of Regulation 1049 is necessary to bring it into line with the TFEU and international standards on the right of access to information,

European Parliament adopts proposals to improve EU transparency rules Amsterdam/Madrid/Brussels 15 December 2011 – Access Info Europe, ClientEarth and Greenpeace on 15 December welcomed a vote by the European Parliament vote, adopting proposals to improve the EU’s access to documents rules by a convincing 394 votes in favour, 197 against with 35 abstentions. The proposed reforms, contained in a report drawn up by Michael Cashman MEP already adopted by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, are now the Parliament’s formal position and will be negotiated with the Council of the European Union, under the upcoming Danish Presidency (first

Legal battle over EU transparency gathers pace 26 September 2011 - Three new players have joined the legal battle over the future of transparency of the Council of the European Union, to be decided by the European Court of Justice (second instance). The Czech Republic and Spain have announced they will join Greece and the UK in supporting the Council's fight to keep the names of Member States making legislative proposals secret. Access Info together with the UK NGOs including the Open Rights Group, the Campaign for Freedom of Information, and Unlock Democracy will use International Right to Know Day

UK promises transparency at home whilst fighting it in Brussels Number 10 Downing Street, Transparency Portal 9 September 2011: Despite domestic efforts to open up government, the UK has taken a stance against transparency in Brussels by being party to a legal battle at the European Court of Justice which if successful would limit public access to documents about future laws. As much as 50% of national legislation is now influenced by European Union rules. The pro-transparency organisation Access Info Europe won a case in March 2011 for access to legislative documents, but the Council of the European Union is