Scotland to host largest gathering for Information Commissioners
Published On Mon 13 Oct 2014 by Roddy Isles
Scotland will play host to the largest ever gathering of Information Commissioners from across Europe next month, at a conference organised by the University of Dundee’s Centre for Freedom of Information.
The Centre’s European Conference will take place in Edinburgh on November 4th and will address the challenges for practitioners, from Scotland as well as the rest of Europe, in interpreting and implementing access to information laws which derive from European legislation.
“This is the largest gathering of Information Commissioners there has been in Europe and comes in response to our initiative to promote greater exchange of knowledge and experience amongst those responsible for the implementation and enforcement of Freedom of Information laws,” said Professor Kevin Dunion, Director of the Centre for Freedom of Information and former Scottish Information Commissioner.
“The move towards more freedom of information is accelerating across Europe. A major driver is the need for countries to meet the European Union’s required standards of transparency whilst, internally, civil society presses for freedom of information to tackle problems of accountability, corruption or immature democracy.”
Delegates will be attending the conference from across Europe, from Azerbaijan and Georgia in the east to Ireland in the west, and from the Norway in the north to Cyprus in the south.
Speakers will include Anya Proops, barrister who acted for the UK information Commissioner at the European Court of Justice; Sue Wolf, author of Wolf and Stanley on Environmental Law; and Jeremy Wates, former Secretary to the Aarhus Convention.
Among the issues to be discussed will be the Environmental Information Regulations and the revised Re-use of Public Sector Information Directive. Several of the Information Commissioners from across Europe will provide snapshot insights into how some of the issues are being addressed in their countries.
The event, takes place at the Macdonald Holyrood Hotel in Edinburgh, where the Commissioners join with delegates from across Scotland and the UK who have responsibilities for freedom of information, data protection, legal advice, planning, libraries and archives, and information management. It should also be of particular interest to those delivering or letting contracts for out-sourced public services.
Further details, including how to register, are available at the Centre’s website at www.centrefoi.org.uk/seminars.php
The Centre for Freedom of Information was established as a joint venture between the School of Law, University of Dundee and the Scottish Information Commissioner, and is focused on the implementation, interpretation and enforcement of laws which provide rights to information globally.
Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk