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How to use Freedom of Information internationally

How to use Freedom of Information internationally. GIJC Lillehammer 2008 Brigitte Alfter Freelande Copenhagen - Brussels brig@mail.dk. Wobbing. Wob = Freedom of Information Act

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How to use Freedom of Information internationally

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  1. How to use Freedom of Information internationally GIJC Lillehammer 2008 Brigitte Alfter Freelande Copenhagen - Brussels brig@mail.dk

  2. Wobbing • Wob = Freedom of Information Act • Ethymology: Wet Openbarheid naar Bestuur, the abbreviation Wob is a slang expresseion used by Dutch/Flemish journalists • wobbing = using a freedom of information act to get documents Have you been wobbing today?

  3. Wobs in Europe– pioneering and tradition Transparency-legislation since: • Sweden – 1766, constitutional status • US - 1966 • Denmark - 1985 • EU – December 2001 • Britain – January 2005 • Germany – January 2006 • Most European countries have some legislationn, however the practices vary immensely from country to country.

  4. … go north • General picture: similar legal structure – varying levels of exemptions in EU and member states

  5. No is not necessarily an answer:www.Farmsubsidy.org

  6. The Farmsubsidy network • 2002 – first application in Denmark • 2004 – data out in Denmark • 2004 – first application EU Commission – turned down (case finished by Ombudsman 2007: Maladministration) • 2005 – data out in Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden • 2006 - 2008 – data out in Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Hungary, Finland, Germany….. • 2008-2009 – EU change of legislation, so data in part have to be disclosed on a regular basis

  7. Differences can be used creatively

  8. Obstacles are similar • Lack of tradition of transparency • Lack of appropriate wob-legislation • Definition of documents • databases • Privacy • Business secrets • Work load for administration www.wobbing.eu

  9. Wobbing Europe Meetingplace for journalists and others, who wish to use freedom of informations laws in Europe

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