International Symposium “Freedom of Information under Pressure – Change of Direction or Chance?” on 28 September 2026 in Potsdam: programme and invitation

Freedom of information has to defend itself against increasing criticism in Germany and Europe. Security concerns, efforts to cut red tape and austerity measures have, in some cases, already led to a rollback of legislation. Its value as a democratic safeguard and a civil right is often being overlooked in this context. For this symposium, we have invited international experts to report on successful strategies. Their perspectives offer insights into legal developments and the practical application of freedom of information, which are also of interest to Germany and Brandenburg.

Programme

• 9 a.m.

  Opening

  Dagmar Hartge
  Brandenburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Access to Information, Kleinmachnow (DE)

• Welcoming Speech

  Dr Jan Redmann
  Minister of the Interior and for Municipal Affairs of the State of Brandenburg, Potsdam (DE)

• 9.30 a.m.

  Is EU Freedom of Information Still Up to Date? 25 Years of the EU Freedom of Information Regulation

  Markus Spoerer
  General Secretariat of the European Council and the Council of the EU, Brussels (BE)

• Access to Environmental Information under the Aarhus Convention: Implementation Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

  Maryna Yanush
  United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Aarhus Convention Secretariat, Geneva (CH)

• 11 a.m.

  Coffee Break

• 11.30 a.m.

  Access to Information under Martial Law

  Yuliia Derkachenko
  Representative of the Commissioner for Information Rights within the Secretariat of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyiv (UA)

• The Guidance, the Penance, and the Damnation of Administrative Transparency in Portugal

  Tiago Fidalgo de Freitas
  Lisbon Public Law Research Centre / University of Lisbon School of Law, Lisbon (PT)

• 1 p.m.

  Lunch Break

• 2 p.m.

  FOI in the UK: Managing Pressure and Maximising Opportunities

  Warren Seddon
  Director of Freedom of Information and Transparency, Information Commissioner’s Office, Manchester (GB)

• “We have nothing further to add” – Journalists’ Rights to Access Information and Their Significance for Investigative Research Regarding Public Authorities

  Dr Jost Müller-Neuhof
  Legal affairs correspondent and in-house lawyer, Der Tagesspiegel, Berlin (DE)

• 3.30 p.m.

  Coffee Break

• 4 p.m.

  Panel Discussion with All Speakers

  Benjamin Lassiwe, Presentation
  Brandenburg State Press Conference Association, Potsdam (DE)

• 5 p.m.

  Closing Remarks

  Dagmar Hartge

End of Programme

Refreshments and Snacks

The Symposium will be held in English and German. Simultaneous translation will be provided. Everybody is cordially invited to take part in the discussion.

As seating is limited, please register as soon as possible, at the latest by 11 September 2026. Registration is on a “first come, first serve” basis. The organiser does not provide accommodation for participants and does not reimburse any travel expenses. Participants are kindly requested to make their own travel arrangements.

We intend to make a list of participants available to the participants of the event. When you register, please let us know whether we are allowed to include your name and organisation in the list. You can find information on data processing on our website.