Dutch Member of the European Parliament, Marietje Schaake, (ALDE/D66) received commitments today from trade commissioner designate, Cecilia Malmström that she would focus on maximum transparency and increasing accessibility of trade negotiations. Schaake: "I am happy that Malmström shares my concerns. Too much takes place behind closed doors. Because of this, people's … [Read more...]
Stronger, Clearer Environmental Impact Assessments Required
A proposed update of EU law to make environmental impact assessments clearer, build in biodiversity and climate change, and involve the public, was backed by the Environment Committee on Wednesday. This update, already informally agreed with the Council of Ministers, includes beefed up rules to ensure that decisions to authorize development projects are not influenced by … [Read more...]
Anti-Terror Political Oversight & Transparency Essential
“If we accept the principle that the mere request for secrecy by a third country to classify a document means it is secret, it is denying access to citizens, but also to MEPs, that is ridiculous. There is no political oversight. America would not tolerate that,” said Dutch Liberal MEP, Sophie In’t Veld, ALDE, Vice Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home … [Read more...]