Transparency of the EU Legislative Process

2025-10-15T15:00:00+00:00

2025-10-15T17:00:00+00:00

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MEP EVENT Transparency of the EU Legislative ProcessDefending Democracy and Promoting Better Regulation📅 Date:Wednesday, 15 October 2025🕐 Time:17:00 – 19:00📍 Location:Room ASP 1E1, BrusselsCo-hosted byIrena JOVEVAMEP, Vice-President of Renew EuropeRenew Europe GroupGibanje Svoboda (SI) Evin INCIRMEP, Member of LIBE & AFETS&D GroupSocialdemokraterna (SE) Transparency in the EU legislative process is a cornerstone of European democracy. It plays a vital role in enhancing the legitimacy, credibility, and public trust in the European Union. It is also essential to upholding the Rule of Law and reinforcing democratic safeguards. Despite solid legal frameworks, full transparency in the EU legislative process is not achieved. Numerous reports and inquiries, including from the European Ombudsman, civil society, and the European Parliament, have repeatedly identified shortcomings and called for greater openness and accountability from EU institutions.This event aims to address long-standing concerns about the lack of transparency and limited civil society involvement in the EU's legislative processes. It will bring together policymakers, legal experts, journalists, and civil society to reflect on current challenges and explore practical avenues for reform.Programme17:00 - 17:10Welcome and IntroductionIrena Joveva (MEP, Renew Europe) & Evin Incir (MEP, S&D)Topics: General state of play and role of the European Parliament; Presentation of the speakers17:10 - 17:30Panel 1 - State of PlayLambros Papadias (Head of Cabinet, European Ombudsman) & Cristina Guarda (MEP, Greens/EFA)Topics: Overview of the lack of transparency in the EU legislative process, especially on access to information; Findings from European Ombudsman reports; Presentation of the INI report on the annual report on the activities of the European Ombudsman in 202417:30 - 17:50Panel 2 - Civil Society InvolvementNicholas Aiossa (Director, Transparency International EU) & Daniel Freund (MEP, Greens/EFA)Topics: Lack of transparency and involvement of CSOs in the EU legislative process and the impact on their work; Presentation of improvements that can be done on transparency in the EU institutions including in the EP, also within the upcoming EU Civil Society strategy17:50 - 18:10Panel 3 - Legal Tools & AccessJournalist (TBC) & Anne Friel (Lawyer, Head of Environmental Rights, ClientEarth)Topics: Concrete examples of difficulties to have access to documents; Legal tools used by NGOs to ask for more transparency in the EU legislative process (access to documents requests, internal review on the new rules of procedure of the Commission, complaints to European Ombudsman, etc.)18:10 - 18:45Q&A Session18:45 - 19:00Conclusion & Final RecommendationsIrena Joveva (MEP) & Evin Incir (MEP)SpeakersCristina GUARDAMEP, Vice-Chair of PETI, Member of AGRIGreens/EFA GroupEuropa Verde (IT) Daniel FREUNDMEP, Chair of CONT, Member of AFCOGreens/EFA GroupBündnis 90/Die Grünen (DE) Lambros PAPADIASHead of CabinetEuropean OmbudsmanNicholas AIOSSADirectorTransparency International EUAnne FRIELLawyer, Head of Environmental RightsClientEarth

https://www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/transparency-of-the-eu-legislative-process/2025/10/15/245