Ease of access improving

Date: 23/10/1997

NEW figures compiled by the Council of Ministers suggest EU governments are proving more willing this year than last to make internal documents available to the public.

By the end of July 1997, the number of applications for access to previously confidential material had almost equalled that for the whole of the previous 12 months (169). Of these, 82&percent; were successful, compared with just over 70&percent; in 1996. Most in demand were documents relating to justice and home affairs, the environment, external relations and the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The latest snapshot of the Council's readiness to hand over internal papers comes as the EU Ombudsman is considering a series of recommendations made by freedom of information campaigner Tony Bunyan, who believes that despite the latest figures, the Council's interpretation of the rules is still too restrictive.

Bunyan says the Council should be required to make available on request an up-to-date list of measures adopted in each area of activity and argues that EU governments should interpret the concept of 'repeat applications' and 'very large documents' less restrictively.

The Ombudsman has also been asked to rule that neither the inclusion of a member state's views in a Council document, nor the fact that a decision was only 'recently established' should be grounds for refusing requests.

Meanwhile, EU institutions are preparing for their own review of existing arrangements. Under the Amsterdam Treaty, new common rules must be worked out by the Commission, Council and European Parliament. These will replace the separate guidelines each institution now follows.

Scrutiny of the review process will be stimulated by the creation in London this week of a European Monitoring and Documentation Centre by the civil liberties group Statewatch. The centre aims to provide information on the work of EU justice and interior ministers, their various preparatory groups and the activities of the executive committee of the Schengen zone.