Council of EU challenges pro-transparency ruling - Greece, UK and other member states set to join appeal Access Info launches campaign calling for governments and MEPs to support EU transparency 21 July 2011 - The Council of the European Union is challenging the pro-transparency decision of the General Court of the European Union in a case won by Access Info Europe on 22 March 2011. Greece and the UK have already sided with the Council and other member states are reported to be considering joining the appeal. New Council of the European Union Building: Democracy under Construction? In the case

Waiting for Transparency in Luxembourg: Eleven Years and Counting Madrid, 20 June 2011 – Today marks exactly eleven years since Luxembourg’s “freedom of access to information” law was first proposed, but the law has not yet been adopted. Luxembourg is one of the only countries in the European Union (and the wider Council of Europe region) not to have such a law. Human rights organisation Access Info Europe today sent a letter to Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker calling for Luxembourg to improve the draft and adopt a law in line with highest European and democratic standards. The pro-transparency organisation also

Access Info comments on European Ombudsman's Public Service Principles for EU Civil Servants Access Info Europe has contributed to the European Ombudsman's public consultation on Public Service Principles for EU Civil Servants. Although not legally binding, these principles would serve as a guide to complement other existing control mechanisms such as internal Staff Regulations, and would define the spirit with which these instruments should be interpreted. Access Info Europe welcomes the development by the European Ombudsman of the EU Public Service Principles which we believe are a good starting point for promoting an ethical and open civil service which acts

General Court of the European Union rules refusal illegitimate Access Info wins case against Council on open legislative procedure 22 March 2011: The General Court of the European Union today found that the Council of the EU wrongly refused to disclose the identity of countries taking positions on reform of the EU’s access to documents rules. Ruling on an application brought by Access Info Europe, the Court found that the Council had “in no way demonstrated” how publication of the country names would “seriously undermine its decision-making process”. The Court stated that “If citizens are to be able to exercise

Global call for MEPs to protect transparency of the European Union Over 250 organisations, journalists and campaigners call for MEPs to reject measures to limit public access to information The European Union is engaging in a review of its access to documents regulation that could result in freedom of information being severely curtailed across Europe. The Commission is proposing changes that would reduce the number of documents available to the public and would allow Member States to veto the publication of documents submitted by them to the EU institutions. These proposals will be debated by the LIBE committee on Civil

Letters Sent by Access Info Europe Global call for MEPs to protect transparency of the European Union Over 180 organisations, journalists and campaigners call for MEPs to reject measures to limit public access to information 28 January 2011, Brussels/London/Madrid: 131 non-governmental organisations along with 56 investigative journalists, academics, and access to information campaigners from 48 countries in Europe and beyond are calling on Members of the European Parliament to act urgently to protect EU transparency rules.1 The call comes as the European Union engages in a review of its access to documents regulation that could result in freedom of information