Numerous legal texts and recommendations originating in both Europe and internationally seem to give new impetus to the provision of information on the environment and organization of access to it by the general public. Does the creation of the European Environmental Agency and specific institutions in the Member States over the past decade or so provide evidence that environmental information might be called on to play a more prominent role in the implementation of public environmental policies? This paper attempts to demonstrate that, in spite of the progress achieved, much remains to be done to build up knowledge of environmental issues, and that ensuring the independence of agencies, which determines their credibility, is a continuous uphill struggle.