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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, 1951 Finland (independent
1917) and 1966 the USA.
Since then more than 75 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. Nearly all OECD countries and all developed countries recognize Freedom of information. Right2Info.org gives an overview. 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 maybe Germany would 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"
On the lists
above you find FOI laws of
Luxembourg (access for journalists) and Cyprus have a pending bill. Germany is in 5 of 16 states nearly the only major country in Europe without Freedom of Information. In Cyprus access to information rights are part of the constitution. Here is a detailed survey of Christoph Sobotta for European states.
Article 42 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 255 of the Treaty are implemented by Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 for the European Parliament, Council and Commission. A selection of legal texts concerning public access to documents including case law.
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 call of Statewatch (click here):
I/We support the call to EU institutions for
a democratic and accountable "Open Europe" on access to documents.
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 11 of 16
federal local states (Bundesländer) Brandenburg,
Berlin,
Schleswig-Holstein,
North
Rhine-Westphalia, Mecklenburg-Western
Pomerania, Bremen,
Saarland, Hamburg, Thuringia and Rheinland-Pfalz have
adopted FOI laws. Opposition parties in the states of Bavaria,
Hesse, Lower
Saxony,
Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt
have suggested FOI laws. Unfortunately parliaments in
Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, Lower Saxony and Saxony have voted against
FOI laws.
Support the Freedom of Information Laws in the states of: Baden-Württemberg,
Bavaria,
Hesse,
Lower
Saxony,
Saxony
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
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