Unlocking EU transparency! The power of public access to documents

Journalists have the right to access documents from EU institutions, bodies, and agencies, but they often face delays and obstacles. Last year, the EU Ombudsman found that the European Commission missed transparency deadlines in 85 percent of cases — a clear sign that there is still much work to be done to ensure compliance with EU law. Moreover, sensitive topics like public security, defence, and military matters are typically exempt from the rules on access to documents, despite their growing importance to the EU. Join us at our event as we explore these challenges and discuss ways to advocate for greater transparency in the EU.

Draft programme

• 18:00 – Doors Open
• 18:30 – Introduction by AEJ Belgium
• 18:40 – Introductory remarks by the EU Ombudsman
• 18:50 – Roundtable Discussion with EU Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly, MEP Evin Incir, and FTM journalist Lise Witteman
• 19:20 – Q&A Session
• 19:40 – One hour networking

Speakers 

Emily O’Reilly has been the European Ombudsman since July 2013. She is also a former journalist, Irish ombudsman and information commissioner. During her mandate, O’Reilly has conducted almost 4,000 investigations into lobbying, revolving doors, and access to documents.

Evin Incir is a Swedish socialist MEP since 2019. She led the work of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on access to documents. In a report, she highlighted concerns “about the frequent use of the exceptions in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) (EC) No 1049/2001 to refuse to provide full access to documents”.

Lise Wittman is the Bureau Brussels’ team lead for Follow the Money. She tracks the lobby and the networks from the member states to Brussels and back.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from leading experts on EU transparency, access to documents, and the ongoing challenges journalists face in holding EU institutions accountable.

Whether you're a journalist, researcher, or simply passionate about transparency in governance, this event will provide valuable insights and practical strategies to push for more open access to crucial EU information.

Register now to reserve your spot and be part of the conversation on strengthening EU transparency!

We look forward to seeing you there.

Host or Publisher AEJ Belgium