Press Release: EDPS Opinion on access to EU documents: a right balance between public access and data protection has to be secured

On 30 June, 2008, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) adopted an Opinion on the Commission's proposal aimed at reviewing the rules on public access to documents held by EU institutions. The Opinion focused on an amended provision dealing with the relation between public access to documents and the protection of personal data.

Although the EDPS welcomed the Commission's intention to clarify the delicate interaction between public access and data protection, he felt that the substance of the proposed amendment fails to provide the appropriate answer.