It has been over six months since we launched AsktheEU.org in the European Parliament in Brussels.
Since then, there have been over 100 requests to the EU institutions and bodies made by individuals as well as on behalf of organisations. About 30% of these requests have been classified by AsktheEU.org users as partially or fully successful. EU institutions and bodies told 13 requesters they did not hold the information, and only 3 requests have been refused.
The last successful request was made 29 March and asked for documents containing information on the planned salaries for future Croatian MEPs who will enter the Parliament when Croatia joins the EU in a year 2013. It was resolved on 10 April, within EU rules governing the 15 working day time limit for responding to access to documents requests. The requester was directed to the Parliament website containing all this information.
On 28 september 2012, on AsktheEU.org‘s one year anniversary, a report will be launched which details how the EU institutions have been handling public access to documents requests, including cases of best and worst pratice, average time frames for responding, and most frequently used exceptions. Watch this space!