Your Right to See EU Documents

The European Parliament’s 2024‑2025 resolution on public access to documents reaffirms that every EU citizen has a right to see the papers that shape EU policy. It cites EU treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 as the legal basis for this right.

Key facts and figures

• In 2024 the Commission received 6 938 initial requests for documents and 641 confirmatory applications – a 7 % rise in confirmatory requests compared with 2023.
• Confirmatory requests grew 43 % in 2023 versus 2022, and 17.8 % in 2022 versus 2021.
• The Commission granted full or partial access in 51 % of confirmatory cases in 2022, 85 % in 2023, and 60 % in 2024, showing that many initial requests are not fully examined.
• By 31 December 2024 the Parliament’s Public Register of Documents listed 918 803 references (up from 898 267 in 2023).
• The overall positive response rate is 91 %, with an average handling time of about nine working days.
• The Council’s register held over 527 000 documents by the end of 2024, 72 % of which were publicly available, and it granted full or partial access in 85 % of the 2 800 requests it received.
• The Commission issued 5 542 initial replies and 305 confirmatory replies in 2024.
• In 60 % of Commission cases the delay to decide on a confirmatory application exceeded 60 working days.

Main concerns

• Persistent delays and inconsistent handling of requests, especially confirmatory applications, undermine transparency and citizen trust.
• Over‑classification of documents and frequent use of exceptions to deny access are seen as violations of the right to information.
• The Commission’s withdrawal of proposals to amend Regulation 1049/2001 in 2025 leaves the framework outdated.
• The Commission’s handling of text‑message requests (e.g., with Pfizer and the COVID‑19 vaccine purchase) and the lack of clear records have been criticised by the Ombudsman and the General Court.
• The use of AI and other digital tools is not yet fully transparent, raising concerns about accountability and the potential spread of misinformation.
• The Council and other EU agencies often fail to publish preparatory documents, limiting public scrutiny of legislative negotiations.

Recommendations

1. Modernise the legal framework – the Commission should draft a new regulation that incorporates recent court rulings, tightens exceptions, and introduces sanctions for non‑compliance.
2. Speed up processing – allocate more staff and resources to handle requests, set clear deadlines, and publish decisions promptly.
3. Improve classification rules – establish an independent body to review how documents are classified and de‑classified.
4. Enhance transparency of AI – require institutions to publish details of algorithms, training data, and impact assessments.
5. Proactive publication – institutions should routinely publish all legislative documents, agendas, minutes, and trilogue materials, not just when requested.
6. Simplify complaints – create a fast, user‑friendly procedure for citizens to challenge refusals, with clear, reasoned explanations.
7. Audit and oversight – the Ombudsman should conduct regular audits of compliance with transparency obligations.
8. Public awareness – run campaigns to inform citizens of their right to access documents and how to make requests.
9. Council and agencies – improve rules on legislative transparency, publish all preparatory documents, and ensure timely access to agency records.

The resolution calls on the Commission, the Council, and all EU institutions to act urgently to strengthen openness, reduce delays, and restore public confidence in the EU’s decision‑making processes.