Free Access to Information Will Be Legalized This Year

The Law on free access to public information will decrease substantially the opportunities for abuse in the administration and in conducting the laws

The Law on free access to public information will decrease substantially the opportunities for abuse in the administration and in conducting the laws.

The Law will speed up the process of EU integration since it will contribute to enhanced judicial system, fight against corruption, democracy in governing and transparency of the institutions. This is the opinion of Zoran Jachev, executive director of Transparency Macedonia, one of the initiators of the Law.

The Parliament ought to pass the Law in the first quarter of the year. Both, Transparency Macedonia and Ministry of Justice thinks that this Law is crucial for conducting the laws and fight against corruption.

Jachev thinks that the lesser information public has for the administration, the possibility for abuse is bigger. Last year Pro media conducted the survey among state institutions, bodies of the local government, and political parties. The survey shoved that they are too closed for providing information. Klime Babunski from Pro Media said that political parties SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE were too closed for providing information, and considering the fact that the governments are formed of their members, that is transferred to the institutions, too.

The Law defines two ways of access to information: active and passive. Active means that the institution should publish the information on web sites, in publications, on press conferences or by press releases.

Passive way means that institution is bound to provide information asked by a citizen.

The Law defines what information is, and who is the owner of the information, ministries, courts, agencies and other state bodies. The Law states that information should provide not only budget users, but also the ones with public authorizations.

Macedonian and foreigners, physical and legal entities can ask for information, in written or orally.

Macedonia is the only country in the region without a law of this kind.

Since the citizens are not much familiar with the right of free access to information, Transparency Macedonia will organize a campaign after enacting the Law. The campaign will explain the citizens rights, responsibilities of the institutions and the procedure for access to information.