ADVOCATING FOR GREATER TRANSPARENCY IN THE EU
WE SHINE A LIGHT ON EU INSTITUTIONS AND DECISION MAKING
WE PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY IN EU DECISION MAKING...
since citizens have the right to know about how decisions are takenWE TACKLE THE
ABUSIVE APPLICATION
OF EXCEPTIONS...
because only in limited cases should the EU apply exceptions to access WE CHALLENGE
PRACTICAL OBSTACLES TO
ACCESS INFORMATION...
so that submitting requests is simple and straightforward for everyone
OUR LATEST UPDATES ON EU TRANSPARENCY
European Commission Withdraws Automated August Holiday Delay Message
Madrid, 14 September 2016 - Access Info Europe has welcomed the decision by the European Commission not to repeat August's automatic "out-of-office" style message warning requesters that there might be delays in processing their requests due to the summer holidays. This decision came after Access Info's Executive Director Helen Darbishire sent a letter to the Commission on 1 September 2016
Record-keeping and timely publication of information are essential for meaningful participation Access Info tells Council of Europe
Madrid, 5 September 2016 – Access Info has submitted recommendations to the Council of Europe on how to improve its Draft guidelines for meaningful civil participation in political decision-making so as to ensure that records are kept and that there is timely publication of relevant documents. This recommendation comes after research across Europe by Access Info and partners revealed abysmal
Your fundamental right might have to wait, I’m out of office
Madrid, 2 September 2016 - Since the beginning of August, requesters of access to EU documents may have noticed the following automated messages from the Secretariat General warning them about possible delays to dealing with requests: “Due to the holiday period in August, some delays may occur in the treatment of your access-to-documents request, especially where the processing of data
EU institutions urged to adopt Ombudsman proposals for trilogue transparency
Madrid, 14 July 2016 - European Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly today published key recommendations calling on the EU institutions to increase transparency of negotiations over future legislation, the EU’s traditionally secretive “trilogue” meetings. Access Info welcomed O’Reilly’s call for proactive publication of key information to shed light on this secretive part of the EU legislative process, noting that the EU treaties
Post it-sized minutes of European Council meetings unacceptable says Access Info Europe
Madrid, 8 July 2016 – Access Info Europe has denounced the European Council’s recurrent lack of detail in its record-keeping, something highlighted by the shockingly minimalist minutes of the 17-18 March 2016 European Council meeting during which the so-called EU-Turkey “agreement” was concluded. The minutes of this significant meeting on the refugee crisis, which produced a controversial solution – many
Access Info defends citizens’ right to know as part of lobby transparency reforms
Madrid, 6 June 2016 – Access Info Europe has called on the European Union and the Council of Europe to ensure that future lobby control rules that both are in the process of developing are fully in line with The International Standards for Lobbying Regulation. In submissions to separate public consultations held by the EU and Council of Europe, the