Report on the application in 2018 of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents

Summary:

Report presented on 29 July 2019 by the European Commission on the progress made in 2018 to deliver on its commitment to increased transparency and accountability.

Further information:

In 2018, the European Commission took important steps to proactively deliver on its strong commitment to increased transparency and accountability, in order to enhance the trust of European citizens in the processes of the EU institutions. A cornerstone in the framework of this endeavour is the Commission’s fostering of citizens’ effective exercise of their right of access to documents held by the EU institutions.

This annual report first summarises the Commission’s broader transparency initiatives. Secondly, it identifies the key trends and features of requests for access to documents submitted within the framework of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001, as well as their respective replies. The report further reviews the rulings handed down by the European Courts, and the findings of the European Ombudsman concerning the Commission's implementation of the Regulation.