Freedom of information and open government: The European Community Union dimension

While the UK government has faced increasing pressure to introduce freedom of information legislation, freedom of information and open government are becoming crucial questions in relation to the operation of the European Community and European Union. The European Community and Union are under growing pressure to make themselves more open and ''transparent'' in their operations, and recent reforms have allowed greater access to Community documents by individuals. However, these reforms have left many questions unanswered, or even unaddressed, and the whole subject of national parliaments and their right to Community and Union documents is unresolved. What is emerging is a very difficult and complex set of relationships which must be addressed if the European Community and Union are to maintain credibility as democratic institutions among member states and their citizens. The author believes that achieving greater openness at the European level is vital if the Community and Union are to succeed.