After issuing several not binding text on FOI since as early as 1970, in the 90s the Council of Europe has declared the work on a legal text on access to information a priority . By this time, the Council gave researchers access to the reports of the first three meetings, but prohibited publication. This provision of access probably comes under the new rules on access to the Council's documents.
Progress appears to be slow.
Regarding the trend towards FOI in universal international law the participatory approach towards protection of the environment as embraced by the documents of the Conference of Rio de Janeiro requires or at least implies access to information. The right to seek and receive information , demands FOI as a precondition of Freedom of opinion. This approach was taken up by the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Carlos Westendorpp who issued a decision on 30 July 1999 requiring the adoption of a FOIA for Bosnia and Herzegovina. The draft act and additional material can be found the OSCE web site for Bosnia and Herzegovina.