Transparency NGOs call on EU not to restrict document access

131 non-governmental organisations along with 56 investigative journalists, academics, and access to information campaigners from 48 countries in Europe and beyond called on Members of the European Parliament to act urgently to protect EU transparency rules in January 2011. The call came as the European Union engaged in a review of its access to documents regulation that could result, according to the NGOs, in freedom of information being severely curtailed across Europe.

• Primary Source

Website: Access Info Europe http://www.access-info.org/

Access Info Europe: Press Release, 28.1.11: Global call for MEPs to protect transparency of the European Union http://www.access-info.org/en/european-union/153-letter-sent-to-meps-pre-debate

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-regulation-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-regarding-public-access-to-european-parliament-council-and-commission-documents/

European Parliament: OEIL: Public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?id=563203

Access Info Europe: Press Release, 18.1.11: Proposed Amendments to EU Access to Documents Regulation 1049/2001 http://www.access-info.org/en/european-union/139-proposed-amendments-to-eu-access-to-docs-regulation

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