1. Introduction
The Commission has always been an institution open
to outside input. The Commission believes this process to be fundamental
to the development of its policies. This dialogue has proved valuable
to both the Commission and to interested outside parties. Commission
officials acknowledge the need for such outside input and welcome
it.
The Commission has in particular a reputation for being accessible
to interest groups and should of course retain this ease of access.
Indeed, it is in the Commission's own interest to do so since interest
groups can provide the services with technical information and constructive
advice. The present communication arises from the belief that by
placing these relations on a slightly more formalized footing the
Commission will make them more transparent to the benefit of all
concerned.
The present Communication should be seen in the context of the larger
debate on the declaration on the right of access to information
as annexed to the Treaty on European Union and on the Birmingham
Declaration which called for a more open Community to ensure a better
informed public debate. However, it addresses in detail only one
of the issues related to these declarations i.e. the relations wiht
special interest groups.
Of particular relevance to special interest groups are the wider
issues linked to both declarations on broadening participation in
the preparation of Commission proposals and on the wider availability
of Commission documents. These questions are dealt with in a separate
communication on transparency.
Commission's Communication of 2nd Decembre 1992
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