Working Party on Information (WPI)

Role

The Working Party on Information (WPI) consists of two formations.

The transparency formation deals mainly with public access to documents, and particularly the examination of draft replies relating to confirmatory applications. It also discusses other matters relating to transparency, such as legislative transparency, as well as inquiries in that field addressed to the European Ombudsman.

The communication formation is responsible for examining the information and communication strategies and activities of the EU, its institutions and bodies and the member states, as well as exchanging views and best practices on all communication-related issues and activities carried out by them. It also promotes interinstitutional cooperation in the field of communication about the EU and shares information on media facilities and media issues.

Composition and meetings

The working party was established in 1963.

The transparency subgroup is composed principally of attachés from the permanent representations, and in particular legal advisers, but also includes many capital-based delegates.

The communication subgroup is composed principally of spokespersons of the member states' permanent representations in Brussels, with a few capital-based delegates.

Each formation meets between four and six times a year.

The Working Party on Information is a Council preparatory body under the General Affairs heading. It is one of the few working parties that are chaired not by the rotating presidency, but by a fixed chair, the Director-General of Communication and Information of the General Secretariat of the Council, who chairs both subgroups.

Legal basis

The current mandate and scope of the working party has its origin in presidency conclusions adopted in 1992. Its chairmanship was defined in presidency conclusions adopted in 2002 and in a 2009 Council decision.