Editing Statewatch (section)

=== 1990s ===
Statewatch began operating in 1991, following an initiative by the founder and subsequent director, Tony Bunyan, and a group of other individuals from across Europe who perceived a need to produce research, reporting and analysis on civil liberties issues in the context of the new EU laws, policies and institutions that would be introduced by the [[Maastricht Treaty|Treaty of Maastricht]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=January 1997 |title=Secrecy, democracy and the European Union: the Statewatch campaign |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/030639689703800307 |journal=Race & Class |language=en |volume=38 |issue=3 |pages=76–80 |doi=10.1177/030639689703800307 |issn=0306-3968|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The original output of this initiative was the ''Statewatch Bulletin'', which was initially published in print six times per year,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Publication {{!}} Journal |url=https://www.statewatch.org/publications/journal/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.statewatch.org |language=en}}</ref> with articles written by Statewatch staff and members of the organisation's network of contributors, based in countries across Europe. Statewatch also hosted an online database through which users could search the organisation's Library & Archive, including official EU documents. The technical limitations of the early web meant that to view material, users had to visit the organisation's office or request photocopies in the post.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statewatch {{!}} Statewatch Library & Archive |url=https://www.statewatch.org/databases/statewatch-library-archive/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.statewatch.org |language=en}}</ref>

The online database hosted by Statewatch was part of the organisation's work to create more transparency and openness around the powers and activities of [[Institutions of the European Union|EU institutions]] developing justice and home affairs laws and policies. The organisation filed hundreds of requests for access to documents, in particular to the [[Council of the European Union|Council of the EU]], and was also able to obtain substantial numbers of documents through more informal means.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Browse Items · |url=https://statewatch.omeka.net/items/browse?collection=1 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=statewatch.omeka.net |language=en-US}}</ref>

By 1998, Statewatch had submitted eight complaints to the [[European Ombudsman]] against the Council concerning public access to documents. As a result, the right of the Ombudsman to investigate secrecy complaints was written into the [[Treaty of Amsterdam|Amsterdam Treaty]] together with a commitment to “[[enshrine]]” the public's right of access to information in an [[Regulation (European Union)|EC Regulation]]. The organisation subsequently played a key role in a coalition of groups that fought to ensure the Regulation ensured the greatest degree of openness possible.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statewatch {{!}} Statewatch: monitoring the &quot;terror&quot; lists - proscription, designation and asset freezing |url=https://www.statewatch.org/observatories/freedom-of-information-in-the-eu/our-work/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.statewatch.org |language=en}}</ref> Many of the documents obtained during that period are now available online in the [https://www.statewatch.org/jha-archive/ Justice and Home Affairs Archive].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statewatch {{!}} JHA Archive |url=https://www.statewatch.org/jha-archive/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.statewatch.org |language=en}}</ref>

In 1998, Statewatch received an award from the [[Campaign for Freedom of Information]] for its work on fighting for EU openness and access to documents. In 2001, the European Information Association gave Statewatch the Chadwyck-Healey Award for achievement in European Information for its work on openness and the new code of access to EU documents.<ref name=":0" />

Since 1999, Statewatch has published ''Statewatch News'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statewatch {{!}} News |url=https://www.statewatch.org/news/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.statewatch.org |language=en}}</ref> an online news service that is a source for [[News leak|documents leaked]] from within EU institutions; for other original reporting; and for the circulation of material from related groups and campaigns. The documents published by the organisation, as well as its research and reporting, are regularly reported on by mainstream media outlets<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} In the press |url=https://www.statewatch.org/about/in-the-press/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.statewatch.org |language=en}}</ref> and used by civil society organisations for their own research, campaigning and advocacy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Annual reports |url=https://www.statewatch.org/about/annual-reports/ |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=www.statewatch.org |language=en}}</ref>