Transparency in Europe II Public Access to Documents in the EU and its Member States Hosted by the Netherlands during its chairmanship of the EU Council The Hague, 25 and 26 November 2004 1 Colofon Publication Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Constitutional Affairs and Legislation Department P.O. box 20011 2500 EA The Hague Editors Mr. P.J. Stolk E.
[email protected] Ms. Aida Tunovi´c MA E.
[email protected] Mr. H. Kranenborg, University of Leiden Prof. mr. W. Voermans, University of Leiden Cover design European Commission Aeroset bv, Wateringen Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Lay-out Aeroset bv, Wateringen Print Artoos, Rijswijk ISBN nummer 90541 40925 2 Table of Contents 1 Foreword 5 2 Programme 7 Plenary Session I 9 3 Opening remarks by J.K. Wiebenga, State-councillor and former 11 member/vice-president of the European Parliament 4 Opening speech by Mr. Th.C. de Graaf, Minister for Governmental Reform and 13 Kingdom Relations 5 Paper and Presentation by Ms. van Bijsterveld, Professor at the Tilburg University 17 Workshops 6Workshop I: Transparency in the New Treaty 43 • Introduction by Mr. Cashman, member of the European Parliament 43 • Report of the discussion 47 7Workshop II: Public Access to Documents in the new Member States 49 • Introductory presentation by Mr. Tallo, Director of e-Governance Academy 51 • Introductory paper and presentation by Ms. Pirc-Musar, Commissioner 63 for Access to Public Information • Report of the discussion 83 8Workshop III: Public Access to Documents and Security 85 • Paper by Jakob Thomsen and Wouter van de Rijt, DG F and DG H 87 respectively, EU Council • Report of the discussion 101 9Workshop IV: Harmonisation of the EU and Member State Legislation 105 • Introductory paper by Mr.