Archive
Access to documents: New draft shows how far the EU is from real freedom of information
The latest text of the new code of access to EU documents prepared by the Swedish Presidency shows up the different positions of the Council, Commission and European Parliament. The new text, dated 29 January, Read More
“Solana Decision” back on the agenda – new draft Council common position
The adoption of the "Solana Decision" by the Council in the summer - without consulting national or European parliaments or civil society - led to outrage at the way the decision was made and its Read More
Survey shows which EU governments back openness, which do not
This survey by Statewatch looks at the response of EU governments since January this year to confirmatory applications (appeals) against the refusal to give access to documents in response to an application to the Council Read More
“Secret plan to spy on all British phone calls”: UK fronts G8 plan for records to be kept for 7 years
The Observer newspaper today (3.12.00) today published details of demands by the police, security and intelligence agencies in the UK for powers to have access to all phone calls, e-mails and internet activity. It report Read More
Global “policing” role for EU (1)
The feature below describes the decisions on the creation of the new EU military structures and under the heading of "non-military crisis management": the creation of an EU para-military police force and the imposition of Read More
“Solana Decision” extended to cover justice and home affairs, trade and aid
Every new version of the Council's draft common position on the new code of access to EU documents is worst than the previous one. The new version (dated 1.12.00) extends the concept of "special documents" Read More
News in Brief September – September- December 2000
December 2000 Treaty of Nice: NICE November 2000 European Parliament committee investigating Echelon meets in secret:Echelon Big Brother Awards 2000: London, 4 December: Big Brother October 2000 NATO: New chief says it will have to Read More
The amendment to the Decision of the Council on 19 December 1999
The Decision, agreed by "written procedure" on 14 August 2000 by the EU governments (doc ref: 10702/00) also amends the provisions of "Council Decision on the improvement of information on the Council's legislative activities and Read More
Sweden joins the Netherlands court case against the Council on access to documents
Today (28.9.00) the Swedish government announced that it would join the Netherlands in their court case against the Council of the European Union against the "Solana Decision". The text of the announcement is below. Pressrelease, Read More
Journalists Condemn “Summertime Coup” As NATO Declares War on Open Government
EUROPEAN journalists have accused European Union military and political leaders of a "summertime coup" against greater transparency in government following a decision in Brussels to slip through new rules on public access to documents during Read More