EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN SPEAKS OUT ON ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS.

The European Ombudsman, Jacob Soderman, has asked the European Commission to reconsider its refusal to allow the pressure group Friends of the Earth (FoE) access to two studies into whether the United Kingdom has respected EU environmental legislation in Gibraltar, namely the framework Directive on waste, the Hazardous Waste Directive and the Habitats Directive (wild flora and fauna). The two documents in question were compiled by an independent consultant. The Commission justifies its refusal by referring to the need to protect the public interest which is one of the criteria for allowing exceptions to the access rule for Commission documents. The European executive argues that the reports contain important information in terms of future infringement proceedings which may be launched against the United Kingdom and is refusing to allow access to the full...