Söderman urges MEPs to back Statewatch case

Date: 10/01/02

By Martin Banks

EU OMBUDSMAN Jacob Söderman has called on the European Parliament to intervene in a long-running civil liberties case. Söderman has taken the rare step of sending a special report to the assembly, urging it to demand that the Council of Ministers releases documents to the campaign group, Statewatch. The UK-based organisation complained after it was twice denied documents and information by Council officials.

It had unsuccessfully sought access to papers discussed by the police cooperation working party on 3 September 1998. These included ENFOPOL 98, a proposal to extend telecommunications surveillance to cover e-mails and mobile phones. Statewatch had a similar request blocked in January 1999.

It argued that under the EU's Code of Good Administrative Behaviour citizens were entitled to see a list of all the documents considered by the Council.

Söderman found that the Council's failure to maintain a list or register of all documents put before it constituted maladministration.

In his special report - only the sixth the Ombudsman has made to the Parliament since 1995 - Söderman said the institution should establish such a list and make it freely available by 3 June this year.

Tony Bunyan, editor of Statewatch, said: 'Söderman has laid down a marker ... for all documents considered at all levels of the decision-making process.'

The EU Ombudsman has called on the European Parliament to intervene in a long-running civil liberties case.