In the Netherlands, about 1,000 requests under the freedom of information act are filed each year, Dutch media lawyer Roger Vleugels says. But in Belgium and France, only about 25 requests are made. If journalists don't use their freedom of information rights, says Danish media lawyer Henriette Schjøth, "you will never be able to change the administrative culture within authorities."
The two lawyers were speaking at a mid-October launch of a Belgian site intended to encourage reporters to use Europe's freedom of information laws. Posted in Dutch and English, Wobbing Europe (http://www.wobsite.be) outlines transparency legislation in the European Union's 27 member states and tracks EU policy on freedom of information.
The difficulty of following up with FOI requests - many of which are initially denied - often produces a chilling effect. Journalists at the launch recommended pooling their FOI efforts.
