Since September 2014, the Open Government in the EU blog scans English-language online news outlets for news on EU transparency. Please find below the news digest for 2019. Recent news reports on EU transparency can also be found on the sidebar to the right of this post.
See also the news report digests for 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 (first quarter, second quarter, and second half), and 2014 (last quarter).
Main themes in 2019
The year began with a focus on reforms in internal transparency rules of the European Parliament concerning voting. As talks on an interinstitutional register for interactions with lobbyists came to a head and then collapsed in March, the focus shifted on lobby transparency, with attention dedicated to lobby practices in the permanent representatives. The second quarter saw a strong increase in coverage of the European Ombudsman’s activities to promote EU transparency, possibly related to her high-profile re-election by the European Parliament later in the year. The second half of the year again shifted the focus to the Council and its internal transparency reforms, with attention dedicated to the long-term stalement resulting from a strong entrenchment of positions among the member states.
January-March
11/01/19// Politico: European Parliament is failing on transparency
15/01/19// EUObserver: Centre-right MEPs want transparency vote to be secret
31/01/19// EUObserver: MEPs vote for transparency, despite EPP secret ballot
31/01/19// Deutsche Welle: EU votes for more transparency in dealing with lobbyists
06/02/19// EUObserver: EU embassies ‘shockingly’ opaque about lobbyists
07/02/19// EUObserver: ‘No real progress’ on Eurogroup transparency
11/02/19// Euractiv: Frans Timmermans: Make lobbying in the EU truly transparent
07/03/19// Euractiv: EU court prioritises transparency over ‘secrecy’ in landmark glyphosate ruling
14/02/19// EUObserver: EU Parliament demands Saudi lobby transparency
27/03/19// Euractiv: MEPs ask next Commission chief to oust Selmayr
29/03/19// EUObserver: Facebook launches EU election transparency rules
April-June
04/04/19// Baltic Course: Moving towards a European transparency register for lobbyists
05/04/19// EUObserver: Lobby register transparency talks collapse
11/04/19// EUObserver: EU could learn from Scotland’s transparency register
02/05/2019// EUObserver: Ombudsman backs EUobserver on MEP expenses
08/05/19// EUObserver: Opinion: The non-accountable MEPs
14/05/19// FishSec: Ombudsman investigates EU Council’s lack of transparency around fishing quotas
14/05/19// Politico: EU ombudsman blasts secret pesticide positions
15/05/19// NewEurope: EU Ombudsman demands more openness from Eurogroup
18/06/19// EUObserver: Frontex transparency dispute goes to EU court
19/06/19// European Interest: European Ombudsman welcomes Dutch initiative on EU transparency
20/06/19// EUObserver: Ombudsman: Tusk’s staff should record lobby meetings
20/06/19// ECER: Nederland voorstander van meer transparantie en verantwoording in de EU
24/06/19// Parliament Magazine: EU Ombudsman hails Dutch drive to improve Council transparency
27/06/19// Politico: Opinion: Eurozone needs transparent politics, not ‘trust’
July-September
02/07/19// EUObserver: EIB blames Ombudsman for not helping redact VW report
05/07/19// DW: EU’s Juncker regrets lack of transparency in von der Leyen’s nomination
22/07/19// Parliament Magazine: MEPs raise ‘grave’ concerns over Council transparency
01/08/19// EUObserver: EU receives record number of requests for documents
27/09/19// Politico: EU Influence: Future of transparency
October-December
10/10/19// Corporate Europe Observatory: Reform of Council transparency in stalemate
12/10/19// Politico: EU Confidential: Green MEP Daniel Freund on EU transparency
18/10/19// Politico: EU Influence: Council transparency stalled
07/11/19// EUObserver: Opinion: EU ‘all bark and no bite’ on disinformation
27/11/19// EUObserver: Transparency campaigners lose Frontex case
06/12/19// EUObserver: Opinion: Will Michel lead on lobbying transparency at Council?
12/12/19// Total Croatia News: NGOs Demand Transparency During Croatia’s EU Presidency
18/12/19// EUObserver: EU reappoints ‘fearless’ Irish ombudsman