Parliamentary question - E-3955/2003Parliamentary question
E-3955/2003

Interpretation of environmental information directives

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3955/03
by Heide Rühle (Verts/ALE)
to the Commission

The concept 'internal communications' used in Article 3(4) and Article 4(1)(e) respectively of Directives 90/313/EEC[1] and 2003/4/EC[2] concerning public access to environmental information causes serious interpretation problems when the attempt is made to apply it in practice.

 

  1. Does the Commission consider that any simple process by which data and factual information are exchanged between or within authorities constitutes 'internal communications' for the purposes of the directives?If not,

 

  1. In the light of what substantive or formal criteria ought information processes which constitute 'internal communications' as referred to in the above directives to be distinguished from those which are not excepted on the grounds of constituting 'internal communications'?