Access to documents

Citizens have a right of access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents (Photo: www.creativeunion.com)

Access to documents

According to the Treaties, EU citizens have a right of access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents. In May 2001, the EU adopted a regulation on public access to these. 

On 9 November 2005, the European Commission established a  European Transparency Initiative with the aim of strengthening transparency throughout the European Union. The Lisbon Treaty does not change the rule laid down but extends it to more EU institutions

Regulation 1049/2001 regulates transparency and was not amended before the European elections in 2014 as planned.

 

Links

See also Transparency                                                                                                  Access to Documents:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/staticDisplay.do?id=151&language=EN 

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/PDF/r1049_en.pdf 

The European Transparency Initiative http://ec.europa.eu/Commission_Barroso/kallas/transparency_en.htm