Buongiorno a tutti,

Thank you for the invitation to join you today and to share some thoughts on such an important and topical issue as the freedom of information.

This conference comes at a critical moment for transparency and access to information in Europe.

We are living through a time of rapid geopolitical change and overlapping crises. In response, decision-making has become faster, more centralised — and too often, speed is taking precedence over process.

But at the very same time, citizens are moving in the opposite direction.

People and communities are asking for more openness.

More clarity.

More involvement.

Citizens no longer accept simply being governed. They expect to understand. To question. To participate.

And here lies the tension.

On one side: you have urgency, the temptation of concentration of power and accelerated decisions.

On the other: you have growing demands for transparency and accountability.

If this gap widens, trust begins to erode. And without trust, democratic institutions cannot function effectively.

This is why freedom of information is not a technical or legal issue. It is a democratic imperative.

It must work in Italy, in every Member State, and at the level of the European Union.

Because today, governance is increasingly interconnected. What happens at national level and at EU level is rarely separated — it is part of a shared administrative space.

And as the EU takes on greater responsibilities, the need for transparency only grows stronger.

People must have access to information — to scrutinise decisions, to hold power to account, and to take part in democratic life.

This is the focus of my Office: at the European Ombudsman, we are pushing for greater transparency in EU institutions, and addressing persistent problems — long delays, unjustified refusals, and the misuse of exceptions.

These are not minor issues. They directly affect citizens’ rights. Fundamental rights.

We face important challenges on guaranteeing freedom of information in the digital era, from disinformation to fake news. The goal is the same as ever, but solutions must be built with the tools of our time. I am confident that today’s discussions will move us forward.

Toward practical solutions.

Toward stronger transparency.

Toward renewed trust.

And ultimately, toward a more resilient democracy.

I wish you a very successful conference. Thank you.