Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2007 15:48:24 UT (16:48 CET)
Reference Number: 3582074
/45-C-2911
Dear Mr. Guerby,
We acknowledge receipt of your message, and in response to your enquiry we would like to inform you that Article 255 of the European Community Treaty gives any citizen of the Union, and any natural or legal person residing or having its registered office in a Member State, the right of access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The concept of transparency refers to the openness of the Community institutions and to their clear functioning. Transparency is linked to the citizens' demands for wider access to information and EU documents and for greater involvement in the decision-making process which would help foster a feeling of closeness to the Union.
The draft Constitution in the process of ratification extends the principle of access to documents to all EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies.
The Regulation No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents implements this right of access to documents from the three institutions. However, it still provides for two types of exceptions: cases in which access is automatically refused (for reasons of public security, defence, international relations) and cases in which access is refused (protection of the commercial interests of a private individual, for example) except where there is an overriding public interest in disclosure.
The complete text of the Regulation can be found at the EurLEX database website:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/en/index.htm
Please, choose "Simple search" and then "Search by Natural number". Enter the year of the document - 2001, and the number 1049 to access the document.
We would like to remind you that, if the document is a pdf-file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader software so as to be able to read it. "Acrobat Reader" is available for downloading at the following Website:
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html
In addition, access to documents must be facilitated through the implementation of an electronic public register.
The European Parliament wants its work to be known and understood by the public and has provided a register that gives access to documents.
The Register of documents allows members of the public to carry out research into Parliament's work. It is intended to inform the public of the existence of the various documents produced by Parliament and to give access to them.
The European Parliament Public Register of Documents can be found through the web site of the European Parliament:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament.do?language=EN
Choose "Access to documents" from the menu at the left hand side of the page to access the Public register of the Parliament.
You can also request public documents of the European Parliament from the European Parliament Information Offices in France:
Paris
288, boulevard St-Germain
F-75341 Paris Cedex 07
+33 / (0)1 40 63 40 00
+33 / (0)1 45 51 52 53
epparis@europarl.europa.eu
Marseille
2, rue Henri Barbusse
F-13241 Marseille
+33 / (0)4 91 91 46 00
+33 / (0)4 91 90 95 03
epmarseille@europarl.europa.eu
Strasbourg
Allée du Printemps
Bâtiment Louise Weiss
BP 1024/F
F-67070 Strasbourg Cedex
+33 / (0)3 88 17 40 01
+33 / (0)3 88 17 51 84
epstrasbourg@europarl.europa.eu
Complete list of the European Parliament Information Offices throughout the European Union can be found at the following URL address:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/parliament/public/nearYou.do?language=EN
We hope that this information will be of use to you.
With kind regards,
EUROPE DIRECT
Do you need information on the safe use of the Internet by your children and family? Call 00800/6 7 8 9 10 11 or send an e-mail at: http://ec.europa.eu/europedirect/
What maritime policy for the EU?
Have your say:
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/
Firstname: Laurent - Family Name: GUERBY
Subject: Letters to the European Parliament president and secretary and answers
Question: Hi,
I read today in the french newspaper Le Monde (1) that since 2001 all letters sent to the EP president and secretary and answers are made public on the web.
I find this a very good policy, but I'm unable to find where the letters and answers are located on the EP web site.
If this policy is indeed in place, could you point me to the right URL?
Thanks in advance,
Laurent GUERBY
http://guerby.org/blog/
(1) (in french)
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3236,36-860523,0.html
Please note: whilst we endeavour to ensure that you receive the information requested or are directed to an appropriate source, we are unable to comment on specific issues pertaining to EU policy, and any information provided by EUROPE DIRECT may not be considered as legally binding.
