EU struggles with being open about transparency

EurActiv reports on a media investigation made by Helen Darbishire, chief of the Access Info Europe group, according to whom EU member states are reluctant to reveal whether or not they support EU transparency law. According to the report published on 21 March 2011, 16 of 27 member states refuse to provide information on EU transparency negotiations.

Furthermore, Darbishire has asked the European Union's 27 member states for documents showing whether they support proposals by the European Commission to overhaul EU transparency law. Responding to her requests, most EU member states refused to release anything, citing ongoing negotiations.

But the General Court (Third Chamber) ruled on 22 March 2011 that member states acted wrongly. ‘If citizens are to be able to exercise their democratic rights, they must be in a position to follow in detail the decision-making process,’ the EU General Court said.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 30.6.11: EU states appeal top court ruling ordering more transparency about transparency http://euobserver.com/9/32576

Access Info Europe: Council of the EU Fights Open Decision Making, June 2011 http://www.access-info.org/en/european-union/180-eu-council-fights-open-decision-making

Website: Access Info Europe http://www.access-info.org/

ECJ: Information linked with ECJ General Court: Case T-233/09 http://tinyurl.com/4kxeso2

ESO: Background information: Access to documents http://www.europeansources.info/record/access-to-documents/

---