Monday, 26 April 1999
9.30-18.30
Statewatch
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Group of the Party of European Socialists (PSE)
Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR)
The Green Group in the European Parliament (V)
We have the pleasure of inviting you to participate in a Conference on transparency and access to documents that will take place on Monday 26 April 1999 in the European Parliament in Brussels.
The conference will address two key concerns:
Under the Amsterdam Treaty, the existing Code of Conduct and Council Decision (both adopted in December 1993) are to be replaced by a new code (under new Article 255 of the TEC). This new code has to be agreed by, and will apply to, the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission. The conference will review the existing practices and consider what the new code should cover.
The conference is divided into two sessions: in the morning there is the perspective of the institutions - the Council, Commission, European Parliament, the European Ombudsman and the Court of Justice. In the afternoon there is the perspective of "Citizens and civil society" with presentations by journalists, NGOs, and individuals who have taken cases to the Court of Justice and the European Ombudsman. Workshops in the afternoon around each of the "three pillars" will allow for more detailed discussion by the participants.
Through the Amsterdam Treaty it is essential that EU institutions finally become democratic fora where proposals (and all background material), the decision-making process and new reports, measures or legislative acts are available to citizen and parliaments alike at each stage.
Openness and transparency are prerequisites of a democratic Europe.
We are looking forward to meeting you in Brussels.
Tony Bunyan, Editor of Statewatch
Maj-Lis Lööw, MEP, PSE
Aidan White, General Secretary, IFJ/EFJ
Astrid Thors, MEP, ELDR
Heidi Hautala, MEP, the Green Group in the EP
Morning Session: The Institutional Perspective 9.30-9.45 Welcome addresses by: Chair: Astrid Thors, MEP, ELDR and Tony Bunyan, Editor of Statewatch 9.45-10.15 Keynote address by: Jacob Söderman, European Ombudsman "Openness means accountable governance" 10.15-13.00 Addresses by: Mary E. Preston, Head of Unit, European Commission "Openness and transparency at the European Commission: past, present and future" Hans Brunmayr, Deputy Director General, Council of the EU "Transparency and the Council's experience" Maj-Lis Lööw, MEP, PSE "The European Parliament's position on the principles of openness" Deirdre Curtin, Professor, Utrecht University "A draft regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the general principles and limits of the right of access of the citizen to documents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission" 13.00-15.00 Lunch on individual basis, EP visitors' restaurant, self service, rue Wiertz Afternoon Session: Citizens and Civil Society 15.00-15.30 Journalists: Björn Månsson, EFJ Steering Committee member Maurice Frankel, Campaign for Freedom of Information (to be confirmed) Michael Stabenow, Chair of API (to be confirmed) 15.30-16.15 The experience of applicants for documents, case studies: Tony Bunyan Steve Peers, Essex University Heidi Hautala, MEP, the Green Group in the EP Achim Berge, Humanistische Union Alf Lindberg, EFJ Steering Committee member 16.15-16.30 Coffee break 16.30-18.00 Workshops: I pillar: Internal Market / co-chair: Steve Peers, Achim Berge II pillar: CFSP / chair: Heidi Hautala III pillar: Justice and Home Affairs / chair: Tony Bunyan Contribution: Gert Vermeulen, Academic Assistant Criminal Law, University of Gent 18.00-18.30 Final panel: Tony Bunyan, Statewatch, and Aidan White, General Secretary, IFJ/EFJ 18.30 Reception 19.30 Dinner on individual basis
Interpretation will be available in French, German, Dutch, Italian, English, Swedish and Finnish.
Practical information:
Registration: Participation in the conference is free of charge. Participants are, however, asked to registrate in advance, by 21th April at the latest, by using the enclosed registration form. There will be no confirmation of receipt.
Workshops: As part of the afternoon session discussions will be held in three workshops, following the EU 'pillar-structure'. These workshops will provide an opportunity for the participants to discuss, exchange information and possibly co-ordinate their transparency-related activities.
Topics for discussion can be suggested during the workshops or be prepared in advance. Short presentations are welcome. If you wish to give a presentation, please indicate it together with a possible topic and title in the registration form. Please also indicate which workshop you wish to attend.
Meals: One coffee break as well as an evening reception will be provided by the organizing partners of the conference. For lunch and dinner participants are free to make their own arrangements. The EP visitors' self service restaurant will be at the participants disposal for lunch.
Transport: There is a regular train connection between the Brussels Zaventem airport and the city center.
Accommodation: Hotel information will be provided by the organizers on request.
Further information: Please contact (tel. / fax / e-mail)
EFJ/ Isabella Haaf: +32-(0)2-219 2528 / 219 2976 / efj@pophost.eunet.be
EP/ Hannariikka Nieminen: +32-(0)2-284 5446 / 284 9446 / hnieminen@europarl.eu.int
Registration form:
To be returned asap and before 21th April, indicating "Transparency conference", by fax: +32-(0)2-284 9446, e-mail: hnieminen@europarl.eu.int or mail: European Parliament, LEO 8G306, Rue Wiertz, B-1047 Brussels
Name:
Institution:
Address:
Phone / fax / e-mail:
Please mark the workshop you want to participate in:
I pillar: Internal Market ___ II pillar: CFSP ___ III pillar: Justice and Home Affairs ___
Do you wish to give a presentation in a workshop ? If yes, which topic would you like to introduce for discussion? Please indicate also a possible title.
Date, signature: