Archive
Synopsis
This project looks at the struggle for openness and freedom of information in the European Union over the past decade. It starts with the Code of access to EU documents introduced in December 1993 [Chapter Read More
Introduction
This project offers an account of the struggle for openness and freedom of information in the European Union. The use of the terms "openness" and "transparency" is sometimes confusing. "Transparency" is used, in the EU Read More
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank everyone in the Statewatch office (Trevor, Ben, Yasha, Katrin and Eleanor) without whom I would not have had the time to take out the cases to the European Ombudsman let Read More
Appendices
Appendix 1: The 1993: Council code Council decision (20.12.93) on public access to Council documents THE COUNCIL, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 151 (3) thereof, Having regard Read More
Chapter 8: The new Regulation, its operation and new challenges to secrecy
The new Regulation was formally adopted on 30 May 2001 and came into effect on 3 December 2001. A deadline was set for 3 June 2002 when the European Commission and the European Parliament had Read More
Chapter 7: The battle over the new Regulation
The repercussions from the "Solana Decision" carried into the autumn following widespread and highly critical press coverage. Not only the European Commission quickly backed the "Solana Decision. The first draft reports from the European Parliament Read More
Chapter 6: The “Solana Decision” (1)
Perhaps the most extraordinary episode occurred on 26 July 2000. This is traditionally the time when most MEPs are off for their summer holidays, the Council and Commission all but shut down for the month Read More
Chapter 5: The Amsterdam Treaty and the run-up to the new Regulation
Nearly all the changes came about as a result of outside challenges which were then backed by a majority of member states. This view in no way seeks to diminish the role played by Denmark, Read More
Chapte 4: The Decision tested: the Swedish journalist union case
On 17 June 1998 the Court of First Instance annulled a decision by the Council of the European Union to refuse access to the Swedish Journalist Union (requested by Tidningen Journalisten, the Union's newspaper) 16 Read More
Chapter 3: The Decision tested: the Statewatch cases
Statewatch started applying for documents from the Council on justice and home affairs in 1994. At first our requests elicited little information because until they were precisely framed the Council could simply say such a Read More