“The EU is set to tightly restrict its freedom-of-information rules just seven years after they were introduced,” reports the EUobserver, much to the chagrin of an alliance of some 180 human rights organisations, transparency pressure groups and journalist unions. Under the new rules, currently at committee stage before the European parliament, “only documents that are formally transmitted would be made available upon request to a member of the public.” This means that thousands of informal documents [i.e. papers and emails] passed between European policymakers may no longer be subject to a freedom of information request. The Brussels based website notes, that the new rules “would also allow member states to fix more robust powers to refuse access to their communications with EU institutions and restrict access to documents involved within disputes initiated by the commission against national capitals.” Calling on MEPs to “apply the brakes” to such restrictive legislation, one alliance member said, “Our representatives should be fighting to extend the rights of citizens, not reduce them."