European Commission: Improved journalists’ access to public documents needed
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), together with media outlets, journalist associations and press freedom organisations across Europe, has signed an open letter calling on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to increase transparency on EU decision-making by making necessary documents more accessible to media workers. This allows journalists and the public to follow the latest policy developments, public money spending and the exercise of power by EU institutions. It is crucial to democratic accountability, and a legal right under EU law.
Yet journalists seeking information from the European Commission increasingly face long delays, extensive redactions and refusals to disclose documents. In some cases, important records are not properly archived, making public scrutiny impossible. The signatories warn that these barriers prevent reporting in the public interest and undermine citizens’ ability to hold decision-makers to account. In the letter below, they urge the Commission to strengthen transparency rules, improve access to information and uphold the democratic values it promotes across Europe.
Open letter: Call to improve journalists’ access to public documents
Dear President von der Leyen,
We the undersigned media outlets, journalist associations and press freedom organizations are
writing to urge you to commit to improve journalists’ access to documents held by the European
Commission.
Journalists seek to report the facts. As outlined in your State of the Union address in 2025,
informed citizens are essential to keeping those in power accountable.
Yet within the institutions of the European Union, the European Commission itself is failing to
provide journalists with the documents they need to scrutinize matters of public importance,
including financial or political interests which impact the lives of EU citizens.
Journalists’ requests for documents are severely delayed. After huge delays, journalists can be
denied access on questionable grounds, or receive documents so heavily redacted that they
communicate no clear information. In some cases, the Commission fails to keep and properly
archive crucial documents.
Around Europe, public debate is being harmed. Stories which should emerge do not. Citizens
cannot make important political judgements at critical moments.
The European Commission’s reputation for safeguarding EU democratic values is in peril. At a
time when democratic norms are under attack around the world, now is the time to uphold these
values.
We request that the European Commission:
1. Revoke the December 2024 internal rules of procedure that render document access more
difficult, and ensure strict implementation of Regulation 1049 on Public Access to EU
Documents;
2. Publicly disclose on a regular basis figures relating to journalist requests for information,
including waiting times for such requests;
3. Support the work of the Ombudsman to assess actual harms put forward by the Commission
to determine if the decision to not disclose information is necessary and proportionate;
4. Create a truly comprehensive, public electronic register of documents, in line with the
Commission’s legal obligation under Article 11 and 12 of Regulation 1049. The register should
encompass all legislative and preparatory documents, as well as all documents previously
released under the access to documents procedure, including metadata, and in a
machine-readable format;
5. Re-establish an action plan for improving journalist access to information, which would
include:
a. Implementing relevant recommendations brought forward by the Ombudsman in relation
to the time the European Commission takes to deal with requests for public access to
documents (in the Special Report of the European Ombudsman in her strategic inquiry
concerning the time the European Commission takes to deal with requests for public
access to documents; OI/2/2022/OAM);
b. Implementing in full the rulings from the European Court of Justice in relation to access
to documents;
c. Strengthen internal procedures for the filing and archiving of relevant documents and
improve knowledge, guidance and capacity within the Commission to ensure fast and
efficient handling of requests.
Signed:
Article 19
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
EUobserver
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Follow the Money
Forbidden Stories
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
IFEX
Index on Censorship
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
Investigate Europe
Netzwerk Recherche
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
PEN International
