Brussels Behind Closed Doors: The Erosion of EU Transparency

The Commission’s new Rules of Procedure now authorize the destruction of information even after access requests are filed. This shift has made monitoring the regulation of major technology platforms nearly impossible. When journalists or researchers seek transparency, they are frequently met with denials, claims that documents do not exist, or years-long delays. The European Ombudsman has repeatedly intervened, particularly regarding the implementation of the Digital Services Act, yet the Commission continues to withhold information without providing evidence of potential harm.

Adding to these concerns is the draft Information Security Regulation, or InfoSec. This proposal seeks to extend strict security classifications—previously reserved for defense and military matters—to all policy areas. If enacted, access would be restricted to those with a "need to know," potentially dismantling the existing framework of public oversight. Critics argue that this policy, developed in near-total secrecy by security authorities, threatens to codify a culture of silence. Finland and other Nordic member states, which once championed open government as a prerequisite for their accession, now face pressure to reclaim these values before the EU’s democratic accountability is permanently compromised.