Target Group
This seminar is recommended for anyone whose work relies on public access to documents or relates to the treatment of sensitive information. It is aimed at, among others, information officers, information managers, data protection officers, European, national and sub-national officials, data protection and information lawyers, legal advisors, staff of civil liberties associations, consultants, lobbyists, journalists and researchers.
Description
The seminar will familiarise participants with the various aspects of ‘openness and transparency’ in the EU. While linking the concept of transparency with the broader issues of political accountability and democratic deficit, the sessions will address the latest developments regarding access to documents. These will cover both the acts of the community institutions and other bodies such as agencies, treatment of sensitive data, relevant case law, as well as the role of the Member States. Furthermore, the seminar will focus on the changes resulting from the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty and their ramifications on the revision process of Regulation 1049/2001.
Learning Methodology
A variety of training methods will be utilised: lectures and presentations, group discussions and online demonstrations.
Objectives
The objective of the seminar is to highlight the practitioners’ view on the application of European provisions on transparency, to allow for a discussion on the key challenges of Regulation 1049/2001, and to demonstrate different issues faced by the institutional actors in the application of the legal framework for transparency and access to documents. At the end of the seminar participants will have a sound understanding ofn‘the politics of information’ at the European level, be more aware of the rights and obligations underpinning the access to and treatment of documents, and have a better insight into the strategies aimed at promoting an open Europe.
Monday 18 June 2012
Introduction: purpose and organisation of the seminar
Cosimo Monda, Senior Lecturer, EIPA, Maastricht
Transparency and access to documents as elements of good governance
Fergal Ó Regan, Head of Complaints and Inquiries Unit, Directorate A, Unit 1, European Ombudsman, Brussels
SESSION I
ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS IN THE EU: APPLICATION OF THE REGULATION 1049/2001
The regulation 1049/2001 on public access to documents: practice and experiences
Cosimo Monda
Recent case law on access to documents
Fergal Ó Regan
Lunch
Overview of EU Member States legislation in transparency matters
Helen Darbishire, Executive Director, Access Info Europe, Madrid
Transparency in the EU Agencies
N.N.
Transparency and non legislative activity
Bart Driessen, Member of the Legislative Service, General Secretariat of the Council of the EU, Brussels
Dinner
Tuesday 19 June 2012
SESSION II
REVIEWING AND REVISING THE PUBLIC ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS REGULATION 1049/2001 IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LISBON TREATY
How is the revision process going?
The main changes brought about by the new European Commission proposals on the revision of Regulation 1049/2001
Chair: Emilio De Capitani, former Head of Unit of the LIBE Committee, European Parliament, Brussels
Intervenients:
EU Commission: Marc Maes, Deputy Head of Unit 5 - Transparency, Directorate B of the Secretariat-General, European Commission, Brussels
EU Parliament: Anze Erbeznik, Lawyer LIBE Committee, European Parliament, Brussels
EU Council: Bart Driessen, Member of the Legal Service, General Secretariat of the Council of the EU, Brussels
EU Presidency: Jakob Alvi, Secretary of Embassy, Danish Representation to the European Union (invited)
SESSION III
THE CHALLENGES FOR THE CITIZENS
Statewatch’s view on recent trends: how has the regulation been working so far and what should be improved?
Tony Bunyan, Statewatch
End of seminar and lunch
Programme
The programme will commence on Monday 18 June at 09.00 and will finish on Tuesday 19 June at 13.30.
Course Venue
The course will take place at the Bordeaux Conference Room of the European Institute of Public Administration, O.L. Vrouweplein 22, NL-6211 HE Maastricht, tel.: +31 43 3296222, fax: +31 43 3296296.
Working language
The course will be conducted in English.
Fee
The participation fee is € 800 and includes documentation, 2 lunches, 1 dinner and refreshments. Accommodation and travel costs are at the expense of the participants or their administration.
EIPA offers its members a reduction of 10% of the registration fee. Please click here for information on our discounts.
Hotel reservations
The European Institute of Public Administration will be pleased to make hotel reservations for you at a hotel in Maastricht. We have made a block booking at Townhouse Hotel Maastricht (www.townhousehotels.nl), at the rate of ± € 85,99 p.p.p.n. (incl. breakfast and tourist tax). Should you wish to make use of this possibility, please indicate the dates of arrival and departure on the registration form. Payment is to be made directly and personally to the hotel on checking out. Please note that if you register after the closing date, hotel reservations cannot be guaranteed.
Meals
Meals will be served at the Institute’s restaurant and dinner in the evening will be at a restaurant in town. Should you require a special menu (e.g. vegetarian, diabetic), please inform the Programme Organiser so that this can be arranged.
Registration
Kindly complete the online registration form before 4 June 2012.
Your name and address will be part of EIPA's database for our mailing purpose only. If you do not want to be included in our mailing database, please tick the box in the registration form.
Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed registration form.
Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation. Please indicate the method of payment on the registration form. For cancellations received within 15 days before the activity begins, we will have to charge an administration fee of € 150 unless a replacement participant is found.
Cancellation policy
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the seminar up to 2 weeks before the starting date. EIPA accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred (travel, hotel, etc.). For EIPA's cancellation policy, please visit our website.
eipa.eu
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