11 December 2008

14.00 Coffee

14.30 Welcome by Astrid Thors, Minister of Migration and European Affairs, Finland; Draftsperson for Regulation 1049/2001 in the EP Committee on Petitions (2000-2001)

Chair: Heidi Hautala, Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, Parliament of Finland; Draftsperson for Regulation 1049/2001 in the EP Committee on Legal Affairs (2000-2001)

Part I: General reflections

Increasing the involvement of citizens in EU decision-making. On the aims and objectives of the Commission proposal by Marc Maes, Deputy Head of Unit, European Commission, Directorate for Better Regulation and Institutional Matters

What in the current Regulation 1049/2001 would require reconsideration? by Ian Harden, Secretary General, Office of the European Ombudsman

How has Regulation 1049/2001 affected work in the Council? by Dr Hans Brunmayr, Director-General of DG "Press, Communication, Protocol", General Secretariat of the Council of the EU (2002-2007)

The core elements of the Commission proposal by Professor Steve Peers, University of Essex

Comments by Michael Cashman, Rapporteur on Regulation 1049/2001 and the Commission proposal to reform it (2000-2001 and 2008-) in the EP Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and by Anneli Jäätteenmäki, draftsperson for the Commission proposal to reform Regulation 1049/2001 in the EP Committee on Constitutional Affairs (2008-)

Part II: Key questions

When is a ‘document' not a ‘document? by Tony Bunyan, Editor, Statewatch

Documents originating from a Member State. Some Comments after IFAW by Dr Cecilia Malmström, Minister for EU Affairs, Sweden; draftsperson for Regulation 1049/2001 in the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (2000-2001)

Protection of legal advice after Turco by Onno Brouwer, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Seeking a balanced approach: public access and data protection by Peter Hustinx, European Data Protection Supervisor

Discussion

17.00 Reform of Regulation 1049/2001 and "an ever closer union... in which decisions are taken as openly as possible..." Concluding remarks by Jacob Söderman, Vice-Chairman of the Constitutional Law Committee, Parliament of Finland; European Ombudsman 1995-2003

* * *

The seminar will be held in the premises of the permanent representation of Finland to the EU, rue de Trèves 100, 1040 Bruxelles. Please register by 5 December 2008 with johanna.paljakka(at)formin.fi.

The seminar will be held in English.

Updated  on 26 November 2008