PGEU win in access to Commission documents

In December 2007, the PGEU submitted a complaint to the European Ombudsman regarding the failure of the Commission to grant access to a study concerning Community regulations on the pharmacy sector in the European Union, which was carried out for the Commission by a private economic research institute.

PGEU received access to the study during the European Ombudsman’s inquiry into the complaint, but persisted with the complaint in order to clarify the rules of transparency in this area.

5 March 2009, the European Ombudsman’s decision was released proving to be a victory in the area of transparency. The European Ombudsman dismissed the arguments put forward by the Commission on access to documents in this case, ruling against the withholding the document and finding two instances of maladministration.

Full details of the complaint and the European Ombudsman’s decision can be found here: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/case...

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