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Mainly in Scandinavia, other European countries and English Speaking countries.
Freedom of Information - also
known as the public's right to know or administrative transparency - gives
citizens access to official information hold by government and other public
authorities. In 1766 a Freedom
of Information Law (Tryckfrihetsförordningen) was introduced
in Sweden-Finland, thanks to a Finn named Anders
Chydenius,
who faught for democracy, equality, and respect for the human
rights. 1888 followed Columbia, 1919
Finland (independent
1917) and 1966 the USA. Since then more than
50 countries adopted such laws. Many countries guarantee FOI in constitutions. The global trends are that FOI is
recognized as human right. All countries
in Europe have FOI laws or are preparing
bills. All developed countries recognize
Freedom of information.
Transparency was the Word of the Year 2003. The EU
Charter of Fundamental Rights gives in Article 42 a right of access to documents of the European Parliament, Council and Commission.
The International Symposium "Freedom of Information and Data Protection in the Enlarged European Union" shows that Germany would maybe have to adapt FOI first to get goodwill, if it would apply to the EU today. The "European Parliament resolution on the situation as regards fundamental rights in the European Union (2000) (2000/2231(INI))" document A5-0223/2001 "notes ... that both the EU institutions and the Member States uphold the rights set out in the various Chapters of the EU Charter"
| Organization | Name with Link | Translation |
| Council of Europe, 1981 | "Recommendation No. R (81) 19" on the access to information held by public authorities | |
| EU, 1997 (Amsterdam) | Treaty establishing the European Community (signed in Rome on 25 March 1957), consolidated version: Article 255 http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/treaties/livre2_c.html | German |
| Europe, 1998 | Environmental Matters: The Aarhus Convention: http://www.unece.org/env/pp/acig.htm | |
| EU, 2000 | Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, (2000/C 364/01): http://www.europarl.eu.int/charter/default_en.htm | German |
| Council of Europe, 2002 | Recommendation Rec(2002)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member states on access to official documents: http://cm.coe.int/stat/E/Public/2002/adopted_texts/recommendations/2002r2.htm |
The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights gives a right of access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
On the list
above you find FOI laws of
Luxembourg and Montenegro have pending bills. Germany is the only
major country in Europe without Freedom of Information. Here
is a detailed survey of Christoph
Sobotta for European states: http://www.rz.uni-frankfurt.de/~sobotta/FOI_MS.htm.
)* se ARTICLE 19: http://www.article19.org/docimages/1116.htm
(ISBN 1 902598 44 X)
Freedom of Information came 1766 to
Sweden, 1919
to Finland, 1966
to den USA, 1970 to
Norway and 1985 to
Denmark In 1981 the Council of Europe gave "Recommendation
No. R (81) 19" on the access to information held by
public authorities. A new Recommendation
Rec(2002)2 was adopted 2002. Both EU and nearly all countries
in the EU and Europe adopted such laws. However citizen rights
vary and there are no minimum standards. In order to keep up with
the international development freedom of information should be
strengthened in EU member states. Here is a petition to the European Parliament.
Support Freedom of Information, by
the following E-Mail to the European Commission (click here):
I support the call to the
European Commission and Council for democratic and accountable
Freedom of Information Laws on access to public documents in EU
and member states.
(You may change the text according to your needs).
Freedom of Information came 1919
to Finland, 1949 to
Sweden, 1966
to den USA, 1970 to
Norway and 1985 to
Denmark. In 1981 the Council of Europe gave "Recommendation
No. R (81) 19" on the access to information held by
public authorities. Germany is the only country in the EU without
such a law. In order to keep up with the international
development freedom of information should also be adopted in
Germany.
Support the German Freedom of Information Law, by
the following E-Mail to the German Government (click here):
I support the call to the
German Government for a democratic and accountable Freedom of
Information Law on access to public documents.
(You may change the text according to your needs).
The Federal Republic of Germany is
nearly the only country in the EU without FOI. But 4 of 16
federal local states (Bundesländer) Brandenburg,
Berlin,
Schleswig-Holstein
and North
Rhine-Westphalia have adopted FOI. Opposition parties in the
states of Bavaria, Bremen, Hamburg,
Hesse, Lower
Saxony, Rheinland-Pfalz,
Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt
and Thuringa
have suggested FOI laws. Unfortunately parliaments in
Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse and Saxony have voted against
FOI laws.
Support the Freedom of Information Laws in the states of: Bavaria,
Bremen,
Hesse,
Lower
Saxony, Saxony,
Saxony-Anhalt,
Thüringen
with the following E-Mail:
I support the call to the
German Local State (Bundesland) Government for a democratic and
accountable Freedom of Information Law on access to public
documents.
(This E-Mails is send to the parties governing the state, with a
copy to the opposition suggesting the FOI law. You may change the
text according to your needs).
Warning: I do not accept any liability that the information on these pages is correct, accurate or up to date!
Please feel free to link this site!
Thanks to all, who gave me this information. Please do not hesitate to mail me if you have additional information.
Visitor No.
since 25. July 2001
[Back to page on Freedom of Information] [Petitions] [Patients Rights in Europe] [Violations of Human Rights] [Back to Homepage]
 Saxony-Anhalt for a democratic and accountable Freedom of Information Law on access to public documents.http://home.online.no/~wkeim/foi-laws-eu.jpg){kind=link}
 Thüringen for a democratic and accountable Freedom of Information Law on access to public documents.){kind=link}