The European Union, an aggregation of nations that nearly doubled its size in May 2004, faces the challenge of guaranteeing the integrity of our democratic society, while preserving the cherished freedoms previous generations have fought and died for.

Furthermore, Mr. Hubbard cautioned that, “democracy does not work in the absence of understanding.” That understanding depends in large measure on the ability to access information, and in protecting the public’s right to know.

When those ideals are not realised in actual practice, distrust and cynicism spread. Currently, surveys show that a large percentage of the electorate in democratic countries distrust politicians. For example, a spring 2004 survey conducted by the European Commission found that in Italy only 13% of people trusted political parties and 26% trusted their government. The Italian parliament fared little better than the government with 32% expressing trust in the institution.

European government bodies enjoyed greater confidence, with 54% of European publics indicating trust for the European Parliament and 48% for the European Commission — but that still left nearly half of their population with feelings of distrust and doubt.

This scepticism is widespread throughout EU member states. According to Eurobarometer, the European Commission’s survey unit, only 23% of Germans trust their government while 81% distrust political parties. And in February 2003, Market & Opinion Research International (MORI) published an opinion poll that found that 75% of adult Britons have no confidence that what politicians tell them is true.

And while it is a tribute to democracy that opinion polls of this kind can even be conducted and published in the first place, a prevailing cynicism towards politicians and political institutions makes for an unhealthy democracy, generating voter apathy and discouraging citizens from contributing to the democratic process. In the end, those who suffer include a large majority of public servants who are, in fact, sincere and dedicated in doing their jobs.

Transparency and openness of government go far in neutralising the suspicions people have towards those in power. Not surprisingly, it actually protects both the public at large and their public servants. Because when the key information regarding an agency’s actions is known, trust may be established with the public it serves.

Additionally, given the extensive information exchange that exists between different authorities of the European Union, freedom of information is an essential protection; citizens must be able to learn what information exists and is being forwarded about them so as to ensure the accuracy of such, and to eliminate the promulgation of false and derogatory “facts.”

This has become especially necessary in recent years, which have seen a rise in terrorist activity across the world, and the subsequent passing of a spate of laws in numerous countries that seriously undermine human rights protections built up over the past few decades. The anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International, warned in its Global Corruption Report 2003 that, “There is a risk that the new anti-terrorism provisions developed in many European countries will undermine not only civil liberties, but also access to information.”

Thus, churches of Scientology, along with many other religious and civil organisations, recognise the vital need for freedom of information legislation and protection. It is the only way to ensure that true democracy and fairness for all can survive.