Swedish deal on documents hailed as ‘major step forward’

Date: 26/04/01

MEPS and member states have agreed a landmark deal on rights of access to EU documents in what will be hailed as the greatest victory so far for the Swedish presidency.

As forecast in European Voice last week, the Parliament's citizens' rights and freedoms committee yesterday (25 April) approved a deal to legally enshrine what rights citizens have to see papers held by Union institutions.

Ambassadors also agreed the deal this week, clearing the way for final approval by a full meeting of the Parliament and by ministers.

Swedish Ambassador Gunnar Lund said: "I do think that this constitutes a major advance, a major step forward in nurturing the culture of openness, transparency and account- ability that we have talked so much about in recent years."

All three major political groups in the Parliament voted for the deal after hard-fought compromises. But Green MEPs, civil liberties groups and media organisations condemned the result, saying it falls short and in some areas will reduce the public's right of access.

MEPs and Member States have agreed a landmark deal on rights of access to EU documents in what will be hailed as the greatest victory so far for the Swedish presidency.