Finnish and Swedish ministers jointly criticised a proposal by the European commission to modify the current legislation granting public access to EU documents, saying that certain types of documents would be excluded, reports Brussel-based the news service EU Observer. Both countries have been strong promoters of the new law establishing access to EU documents, a regulation adopted in April 2001.
The Commission has proposed adapting the regulation and merging it with one dealing solely with environmental information, ostensibly in keeping with European Community's obligations under the Aarhus Convention. However, the Commission proposal also includes some complementary changes that have raised concerns in Finland and Sweden.
Finnish minister for EU Affairs Astrid Thors said "We are worried about the latest proposal by the Commission and the effects it could have on public access to documents. " Her comments were made during a panel discussion at the country's mission to the EU in Brussels held on 11 December 2008.
Swedish Minister of EU Affairs Cecelia Malmstrom, who also participated in the panel discussion, argued against giving veto rights to member states over documents originating from them that the EU institutions were subsequently requested by citizens to disclose.
Committees in the European Parliament are scheduled to give their opinion on the Commission proposal on 22 January 2009 followed by a vote of the full sitting of the house in March 2009.
