MEPs score big win for transparency in Brussels
Issued : Thursday 15 December, 2011
Speaking from Strasbourg, Nessa Childers MEP welcomed groundbreaking new legislation to make EU institutions more transparent and accountable.
"Soon EU citizens will have the right to know how their national ministers vote when meeting behind closed doors in Brussels. If we know how our ministers vote in their secret meetings, we will be able to hold them to account.
"What we are talking about is a right that allows citizens to make sure that MEPs are accountable, the Commission is accountable, and, equally, the Council of Ministers.
"A lot of people feel detached from the EU. By opening up what goes on in Brussels and making things more transparent, we will be making a start in combating the apathy and mistrust which a lot of people feel about the EU and its institutions.
"It will also destroy the myth that unpopular measures from Brussels are 'imposed' on the EU countries without the consent of their national governments.
"Citizens will also have the right to request any document held by an EU institution, including documents received from any national governments. This will also apply to the European Court of Justice, the European Central Bank and the European Investment Bank.
"This extra transparency was strongly opposed by the EPP Grouping of MEPs, who in a heated debate before the vote compared pro-transparency advocates to criminals and argued that citizens should not be influencing decision-making.
"This is a huge success and step forward for EU citizens and democracy, as it puts an end to potential backroom deals."
Further information:
Under the new regulation, any data content, whatever its medium (written on paper or stored in electronic form or as a sound, visual or audiovisual recording), concerning a matter falling within the sphere of responsibility of an EU institution, body, office or agency will be considered a document. Data in electronic storage, processing and retrieval systems, including external systems used for the institution's work, will also count as a document.
Access to these documents will have to be more user friendly. They will have to be made accessible to the public either in electronic form, in the EU Official Journal, in an official institution's register or following a written application. Documents drawn up or received in the course of a legislative procedure will always have to be made directly accessible on the internet.
MEPs will now continue negotiations with the governments to reach an agreement.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20111215IPR34225/html/Public-access-to-documents-towards-more-transparency-in-the-EU
