'Information Officers' in EU institutions
Dear European Ombudsman,
Under the right of access to documents in the EU treaties, as developed in Regulation 1049/2001, I am requesting documents which contain the following information:
Applications to introduce, discussions about, and decisions made concerning the introduction of 'information officers' in EU institutions.
Specifically, I am interested in documents that might answer the following questions:
1) Has there been any formal decision about the implementation of 'information officers' in any EU institution? If not, has there been a reaction to your statement at the 'Right to know' Day in which you voiced your concern about transparency?
2) What institutions are currently included in the planning of this undertaking?
3) By what means will these officers communicate to the public? Will there be an own institution through which they communicate or will they be an extra outlet within the division they are stationed in?
4) Can the EU Ombudsman share the proposal to introduce 'information officers', as mentioned in Press Release 17/2011 on September 28th, 2011?
My interest derives from an article by Daniel Mason I read on the website 'Public Service Europe' (URL below) in which reference is made to the introduction of 'information officers'. I was, however, unable to find any other information on the process of the issue and hope for clarification through this new platform.
I look forward to your response and thank you for your time,
Kind Regards,
Benedikt Blomeyer
Bremen, Germany
Reference:
http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/artic...
Dear Mr Blomeyer,
This is to acknowledge receipt of your request for access to information
of 11 October 2011.
We will examine our records to identify any relevant documents and reply
to you as rapidly as possible.
At that time, we will also try to provide you with as much information as
possible on the "information officers" proposal.
Kind regards,
Murielle Richardson
European Ombudsman
Murielle Richardson
Secretariat General
T. +33 (0)3 88 17 23 88
[1][email address]
1 avenue du Président Robert Schuman
CS 30403
F - 67001 Strasbourg Cedex
T. + 33 (0)3 88 17 23 13
F. + 33 (0)3 88 17 90 62
[2]www.ombudsman.europa.eu
References
Visible links
1. European Ombudsman Home Page
mailto:[email address]
2. European Ombudsman Home Page
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/
Dear Mr Blomeyer,
Thank you for your request of 11 October 2011, which the Secretary General
has examined both from the standpoint of the right of access to documents
and as a request for information.
As far as we are aware, the idea of information officers was first put
forward in the Â*Cashman ReportÂ* on the proposal for a recast of
Regulation 1049/2001. Please find attached a copy of the report in pdf
format, dated 19 February 2009 , which has been downloaded from the
European ParliamentÂ*s legislative observatory (see amendment 75 on page
47). We also have in our files a draft version of the report dated 5
January 2009 in which this appears as amendment 57 on page 42.
The Ombudsman has supported the proposal for information officers in a
number of speeches. Most of these speeches are on our website. Here are
the links:
o Stockholm, 08/09/2009 - Conference on Transparency and Clear Language
in the EU
[1]http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
o Brussels, 29/09/2010 - Committee on Petitions discussion on Ms
HankissÂ* opinion on Reform of Regulation 1049/2001
[2]http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
o Dublin, 24/02/2011 - Event organised by Transparency International
Ireland and the Irish Society of European Law
[3]http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
o León, Spain, 27/04/2011 - Conference: EU Administrative Law: state of
play and future prospects
[4]http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
In addition to the above, we have been able to identify two speeches
supporting the proposal, which do not appear on the OmbudsmanÂ*s website.
The first was delivered by the Ombudsman on 27 April 2009, on the occasion
of an exchange of views with the Civil Liberties Committee. Our files
contain a copy of the OmbudsmanÂ*s speaking notes on that occasion. Please
find a pdf copy of the speaking notes attached.
The second speech was delivered by the OmbudsmanÂ*s Secretary General,
also to the Civil Liberties Committee, on 1 June 2010. It is available on
the European ParliamentÂ*s website thought the following link:
[5]http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2...
We have also identified the following press releases on our website which
refer to information officers
o Following the vote in the European Parliament (EP) on the Cashman
Report, 11/03/2009 see
[6]http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/...
o International Right to Know Day, 28/09/2011, see
[7]http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/...
Our researches in our records have not identified any unpublished
documents referring to information officers, other than the OmbudsmanÂ*s
speaking notes for 27 April 2009, which are attached.
I hope that this information and the attached documents are helpful to
you.
Kind regards,
Murielle Richardson
European Ombudsman
Murielle Richardson
Secretariat General
T. +33 (0)3 88 17 23 88
[8][email address]
1 avenue du Président Robert Schuman
CS 30403
F - 67001 Strasbourg Cedex
T. + 33 (0)3 88 17 23 13
F. + 33 (0)3 88 17 90 62
[9]www.ombudsman.europa.eu
References
Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
2. http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
3. http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
4. http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/activi...
5. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2...
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2...
6. http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/...
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/...
7. http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/...
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/press/...
8. European Ombudsman Home Page
mailto:[email address]
9. European Ombudsman Home Page
http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/