Access to documents: opening to the public of the historical archives of the Community and the EAEC

PURPOSE : to amend amending Regulation 354/83/EEC, Euratom concerning the opening to the public of the historical archives of the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community. CONTENT : the general principles and the limits governing the public's right of access to documents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission were laid down in European Parliament and Council Regulation 1049/2001/EC. The exceptions to public right of access provided for in Regulation 1049/2001/EC are applicable for a maximum period of thirty years. The exceptions relating to protection of privacy or commercial interests and the specific provisions on sensitive documents may, however, apply beyond that period if necessary. Council Regulation 354/83/ EEC, Euratom provides that the public will not be given access to certain categories of documents thirty years after the documents were created. It is necessary to bring these exceptions into line with the exceptions to right of access provided for in Regulation 1049/2001/EC.�