Madrid, 13 April 2015 - Access Info Europe welcomes the launch of the Italian version of the Alaveteli request platform, called “Chiedi” meaning simply “Ask!”. The following article was originally published in the European Journalism Observatory's website. An online platform that enables citizens and journalists to send automated freedom of information requests to public bodies in Italy has been launched by Italian non-governmental organisation, Diritto di Sapere (Right to Know). The platform, Chiedi (Ask), aims at making access to Italy’s public records and data easier, and at strengthening transparency and accountability in the country. Chiedi is a “Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) machine”: a tool which simplifies the bureaucracy

Need for Better Data on Transparency in Practice [UPDATE 19 September 2014 - This law was signed and adopted by the President of Paraguay on Thursday 18 September 2014, making Paraguay the 100th country to adopt an access to information law] Madrid, 26 August 2014 – The civil society movement campaigning for government openness is on the point of reaching a significant landmark with the Latin American country of Paraguay awaiting presidential sign off on what will be the world's 100th access to information law. The law was passed by Paraguay's parliament on 21 August 2014. [The picture shows Horacio

Need for Better Data on Transparency in Practice [UPDATE 19 September 2014 - This law was signed and adopted by the President of Paraguay on Thursday 18 September 2014, making Paraguay the 100th country to adopt an access to information law] Madrid, 26 August 2014 – The civil society movement campaigning for government openness is on the point of reaching a significant landmark with the Latin American country of Paraguay awaiting presidential sign off on what will be the world's 100th access to information law. The law was passed by Paraguay's parliament on 21 August 2014. [The picture shows Horacio

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

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

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,

Madrid, 22 May 2014 – The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has pulled out of a case before the UK’s Information Tribunal resulting in cancellation of a court hearing due this week (20-21 May) and has agreed to provide Access Info Europe with full information on negotiations in Brussels to revise the European Union’s transparency rules. The specialised Information Tribunal issued a formal decision on 21 May 2014 closing a four-year legal process arising from an information request first made on 15 June 2010 by Access Info Europe Campaigner Pam Bartlett Quintanilla. Just three weeks before the court hearing