Freedom of information

The European Parliament today adopted a report on freedom of information and access to public documents by Green draftsperson/rapporteur Judith Sargentini. The report points to continued problems regarding access to documents in EU institutions and calls for measures to address this. After the vote, Judith Sargentini said:

"It is high time that the culture of secrecy with regard to official EU documents ended. Instead, the Council and Commission are seeking to find new ways to restrict access to official documents in the context of the current review of the EU transparency regulation. By proposing a narrower definition of what constitutes a document, they are defending secrecy. The European Parliament does not accept this and underlined that today with a large majority.

"Of course, the EP itself is not immune from this practice of keeping official documents out of view. The recent ruling forcing the EP to release a 2008 audit of MEPs expenses is a case in point. Instead of inventing trumped up excuses to keep official documents secret, it is the role of the parliament as the democratic link to EU citizens to ensure these documents are openly in the public domain.

"At a time when the debt crisis is already eroding public support for the EU, its institutions and member states should not break any more promises. Maximum transparency in decision-making is enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty. Access to documents is a fundamental right that should be delivered now."