OMBUDSMAN/CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS : COMMISSION CRITICISED FOR REFUSING ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS.

• Position: Brief article

The European ombudsman has strongly criticised the Commission's decision to refuse access to documents concerning the United Kingdom's opt-out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The UK obtained the opt-out within the framework of intergovernmental negotiations leading to the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. Several documents were written by the European Commission concerning its view of the opt-out - but the executive refused access to these documents, sparking a complaint from the...