HC Deb 18 April 1994 vol 241 cc376-7W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the provisions in the accession document submitted by Sweden to the Council of the European Union on publication by civil servants of Government documents.

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

Sweden made a declaration in the Final Act attached to the treaty of accession welcoming the development now taking place in the European Union towards greater openness and transparency. The declaration noted that open government is a fundamental part of Sweden's constitutional, political and cultural heritage. The Union made a declaration in response noting the Swedish declaration and adding that the member states of the European Union take it for granted that as a member Sweden will fully comply with Community law in this respect. The United Kingdom fully supports this declaration by the Union.

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