Journalists, NGOs and individual citizens have the opportunity to air their views and ask their questions on the Freedom of Information law currently being debated in Parliament, in a forum to be organised by the Journalists’ Committee and the European Parliament on Monday 14.
For the occasion, Tony Bunyan, director of Statewatch – the independent not-for-profit European civil liberties watchdog – will be invited as the guest speaker to speak about freedom of information across Europe.
Parliamentary Secretary for public dialogue Chris Said will also be present to answer citizens’ questions and represent the government, as will be the Data Protection Commissioner who will also take on the role of information commissioner once the law is enacted.
Statewatch has been encouraging investigative journalism and critical scrutiny in the fields of the state, justice and home affairs, civil liberties, accountability and openness.
The European institutions themselves have come under close scrutiny of Bunyan’s organisation, as Statewatch insists on freedom of information regulations governing EU institutions.
The Freedom of Information Act Citizens’ forum will be held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana at 6pm, with registration starting at 5.30pm and followed by a reception.
It is open to the public but participants are asked to register by Friday via email on epvalletta@europarl.europa.eu or by calling the EP Valletta office on 2123 5075.