[open-government] European Parliament adopts proposals to improve EU transparency rules

Thu Dec 15 19:41:26 GMT 2011

Dear All, FYI - we will be keeping up the pressure on access to data in open
formats in 2012!

Best, Helen 

access info_logoNEWgreenpeace logoClientEarth_Logo

        European Parliament adopts proposals to improve EU transparency
rules 

Amsterdam/Brussels/Madrid, 15 December 2011 - The European Parliament today
adopted its 1st reading position on proposals to improve the EU's access to
documents rules by a convincing 2:1 majority. [1] 

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. 

Access Info Europe, ClientEarth and Greenpeace welcomed the European
Parliament vote, noting that some proposed amendments to the Cashman Report
which would have restricted transparency were defeated in the voting.[2]

The positive aspects of the European Parliament's position include: 

.      Improved definition of a document which covers electronic systems,
including databases stored on "off-site" servers;

.      Expanded scope of the right of access to documents to cover all EU
bodies in line with the Lisbon Treaty;

.      Strikes the right balance between EU institutions' "Space to think"
and transparency of the legislative process required by the Lisbon Treaty; 

.      Upholds the pro-transparency decisions of the European Court of
Justice, particularly on disclosure of legal opinions issued in the course
of legislative procedures; 

.      Rejects the member state transparency veto proposed by the
Commission, which could have been based on weak national access to
information laws;

.      Ensures a rapid appeal process for members of the public denied
information: confirmatory applications will still need to be responded to
within 15 working days;

.      Establishes Information Officers to improve efficiency in responding
to requests from the public;

.      Preserves existing legitimate exceptions which protect privacy,
business secrets, and genuinely sensitive information in the context of
competition and staff cases whilst ensuring that information which should be
made public is automatically released. 

"We are very happy with this result. We now have high hopes that the Danish
Presidency will work in favour of strong transparency rules in line with the
guarantees of the right of access to documents contained in the EU Treaties
and international law," commented Helen Darbishire, Executive Director of
Access Info Europe. 

For further information, please contact: 
Helen Darbishire, Executive Director, Access Info Europe
email: helen at access-info.org 
tel: + 34 667 685 319

Notes for Editors: 

1.	The adoption of the proposals contained in the Cashman Report in the
European Parliament in Strasbourg was carried by 394 votes in favour, 197
against with 35 abstentions. 
2.	The defeated proposals had been put forward by the European People's
Party. 

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