EU: Netherlands support transparency line by seven ministers

BRUSSELS - 16 / 4 / 2009 - In the struggle to improve the EU-wob, the Netherlands support the transparency line by seven ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries aswell as from Slovenia. The ministers in an open letter expressed their concern that the planned reform of the EU-wob would roll back existing rights rather than to improve them.

Answering a parliamentary question in the Dutch parliament to the Dutch minister of foreign affairs it was confirmed, that the Netherlands support the line of the seven concerned ministers, eventhough they did not participate in the initiative.

The Netherlands believes that this regulation has worked in recent years and that no radical changes are needed. The Netherlands can agree with the proposals aimed at increasing transparency, but questions the proposed changes to the scope of the Regulation (...). A limitation of the scope of the regulation can lead to a restriction of public access to European documentation and decision making. According to the answer.

The Netherlands according to the answer actively support the transparency line in the work on the draft reform wob.

The Nordic, Baltic and Slovene ministers were seriously concerned about a roll back and published their view in an article in the Brussels weekly European Voice in March 2009.