After the EU's top court held its first hearing on a consortium of 29 journalists who are demanding to see MEP expense reports on travel costs, general allowance, staff funding, and daily subsistence – the story is booming. Giovanni Buttarelli, the European data protection supervisor, told EUObserver that despite the rules governing access, such information may be granted in some cases. He says access to such information can only be limited in exceptional circumstances. The EP earlier refused to disclose how MEPs spend taxpayer money due too much paperwork and in part to data protection rules.