Open access to EU documents essential to connecting Europe to its citizens - Kelly

Labour MEP Candidate Senator Alan Kelly today backed calls for a speedy introduction of open access to EU documents and legislation. Kelly believes the EU could learn much from Ireland's Freedom of Information Act which was introduced by the Labour Party when it was last in Government.

The Senator was reacting to a report by British Labour MEP Michael Cashman which proposes greater openness and transparency in EU matters.

Senator Kelly believes that any move towards greater transparency at EU level would be good for Ireland particularly in the wake of the Lisbon Vote and in the light of the need to make Europe more understandable to the electorate.

He said: "A lot of people find Europe a bit of a turn-off with the amount of jargon and the complexity of how laws are made. It's important that people know that Labour and its sister parties are working to make the system more open and transparent. At least if NGOs and journalists can get documents and draft laws they can then explain them to the public.

"It is still worrying that 36 per cent of complaints to the EU Ombudsman are in relation to transparency issues. I very much welcome the report by Labour MEP Michael Cashman which has set out how EU documents could be made more accessible and transparent. However I would like to see this whole area dealt with as soon as possible. These proposals would also have the effect of letting Irish people know what position our Government took in negotiations and deals which is not public at the moment. The current system allows the Government blame Europe for things it has often supported, like charging schools for water! There is a need of course to have some restrictions and I think the original Irish Freedom of Information Act as introduced by the Labour Party got this balance right with certain exemptions. That was before Fianna Fail filleted the Act, and reduced its effectiveness by undermining many of its provisions.

"What we need now is a Europe-wide Freedom of Information regime. We also need better regulation of lobbyists who are very influential in Brussels. It is Labour and its allies that are working for this transparency at European level and I hope to be part of such a movement if elected to the European Parliament in June.

( Retirado do jornal Waterford Today - 29.03.09 )