EU manoeuvering2000-10-20 Heard it on swedens radio 1, reservation regarding the spelling of names. Swedish authorities have classified information concerning EUs ambitions to force USA, Japan, Canada and Australia to adopt a more restrictive policy regarding information accessible by the public, which in the case of USA would mean strong restrictions on the Freedom of Information Act. This particular information was however not classified by the corresponding german authority. A law for the protection of private integrity otherwise severely restricts the accessibility of information in the german application of the EU rules. According to Joachim Willich at Merkiche zeitung, the authorities only need to add an unsignificant reference to a person in a document to deny access to information until the person concerned has given consent, should the person so decide, for which 6 weeks delay is allowed. Return to Introduction |