Do citizens have a right to know how the EU makes decisions?

How can we check that a European institution has used public funds correctly? How can we find out why it took a particular decision? Citizens' access to documents is enshrined in EU law, and the Court has gradually clarified the conditions under which this right applies. However, this right is not absolute and must be balanced against other interests: where disclosure could harm the EU's international relations or the proper functioning of the decision-making process, for example, certain information may remain confidential.