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EU Non paper - Increasing transparency and accountability of the EU - Joint non paper by Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Sweden and the Netherlands on increasing the transparency and accountability of the European Union

01 June 2019

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Non paper - Increasing transparency and accountability of the EU - Joint non paper by Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Sweden and the Netherlands on increasing the transparency and accountability of the European Union
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Non paper - Increasing transparency and accountability of the EU - Joint non paper by Estonia, Ireland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Sweden and the Netherlands on increasing the transparency and accountability of the European Union(pdf)

"A future-proof and effective EU requires a Union that is accountable and enjoys the trust and participation of its citizens. Enhancing openness and sharing information are key, as it brings citizens closer to the EU and enables the institutions to enjoy greater legitimacy, accountability and effectiveness.(...)

This paper outlines a triple track approach through which we can pursue a modern and coherent EU policy adapted to the expectations of the twenty-first century while at the same time preserving the effectiveness and confidentiality of decision-making and the necessary space to think. (...)

Applying the principle of the proactive publication of EU legislative documents would result in improved readability and traceability of the legislative process by establishing, for example, the following measures:

• Systematic endorsement of Council mandates for trilogue negotiations through the adoption of a General Approach, thereby ensuring a uniform practice across Council formations;

• A more uniform recording of the main political lines of discussion within the Council and national statements in the note accompanying the General Approach.

• Increase openness in trilogue negotiations by systematic publication of legislative milestone documents of the Council;

• The guidelines for LIMITÉ marking should be updated. Furthermore, a regular review of the LIMITÉ status of documents and a yearly review of the application of these guidelines should be established.

Transparency across the board

We should systematically promote further insight into the legislative process across the board and where possible. The following initiatives could help deliver such an approach.

The implementation of an interinstitutional legislative database In line with the Interinstitutional Agreement on Better-Law Making, the institutions should implement the interinstitutional legislative database as soon as possible."

See Statewatch Observatory: FOI in the EU

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