The European Central Bank has responded promptly and positively to the inquiry of the European Ombudsman, Mr. Jacob Söderman, into public access to its documents. The Ombudsman contacted the Central Bank on 8 April, asking if the Bank had adopted rules on public access to its documents. The Bank responded on 22 April 1999, enclosing its Decision on public access to its documents and archives, which was published in the Official Journal on 28 April 1999.
Examining the ECB's Decision, the Ombudsman noted that the rules are based closely on those previously adopted by the European Monetary Institute, following the Ombudsman's earlier inquiry. The Ombudsman has asked the Bank to clarify whether the Decision applies to the minutes of its monetary policy meetings.
In principle, the proceedings of meetings of the Governing Council of the ECB are confidential, but the Governing Council may decide to make the outcome of its deliberations public. The Ombudsman is aware that the question of the availability of the minutes of monetary policy meetings is a subject of public interest and discussion. It is therefore important that European citizens should be clearly informed of the rules which apply to access to these documents.
Now that the Amsterdam Treaty is in force, the Ombudsman is also extending his inquiry into public access to documents to concern Europol, which is based in The Hague. He has asked Europol to provide him with information by the end of July as to whether it has adopted rules on public access to its documents.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao, Spain and the Community Plant Variety Office in Angers, France, have earlier received a similar request from the Ombudsman. Both of them have already answered to the Ombudsman, the former stating that it adopted public rules on access to its documents in June 1998 and the latter confirming that a draft decision on adopting such rules will be discussed in September 1999.
The present own-initiative inquiry of the Ombudsman is a follow-up to an earlier inquiry into public access to documents. The new inquiry is addressed to bodies which have been established, or become fully operational, since the conclusion of the original inquiry. Following the earlier inquiry, 14 institutions and bodies of the Community adopted rules on public access to their documents. Clear rules on public access to documents can promote transparency and good administrative behaviour, thereby enhancing relations between European citizens and the EU institutions and bodies.
For further information, please call Mr Ian HARDEN, Head of Secretariat, tel. + 33 (0)3 88 17 23 84.