Landmark ruling requires the European Commission to disclose impact assessments used as a basis for its legislative decision-making process.
By Antonio Morales and Rosa Espín
The Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union recently issued a landmark judgment finding that impact assessments should be considered public documents. This decision sets a legal precedent in connection with the transparency, accountability, and decision-making processes of European institutions.
Case Background
A non-profit organization active in the field of environment protection had sought to access two impact assessment reports, which had played an influential role in the proposals of certain environmental laws.