Opinion Of Committee on Legal Issues and Legislation on Anti-Corruption

Re: The Access to Public Information Bill, No. 902-01-54, proposed by the Council of Ministers

At its regular session held 1.07.1999, the Committee on Legal Issues and Legislation on Anti-Corruption discussed the Access to Public Information Bill No. 902-01-54 proposed by the Council of Ministers.

Mario Tagarinsky, Minister of the State Administration, presented the Bill, drawn by the Council of Ministers.

The Bill was produced following a broad public debate held April-June 1999 and incorporated the recommendations and opinions given by government and non-government organisations and institutes. It also conforms to Recommendation No. 81/19 of the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe member-states.

The Bill guarantees the constitutional rights of citizens to access to public information. It is a part of the central government’s policy aimed at establishing a modern administrative system in Bulgaria. Its basic tenets are founded on:

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN’s General Assembly and more particularly on its Article 19.

The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

This Act is a step forward in harmonizing Bulgarian legislation with the legislation and practices of the EU. It is a direct reflection of the principles embodied in the recommendations of the Council of Europe, the latter being the single institution of Unified Europe of which Bulgaria is a full-fledged member.

The Bill is fully compliant also with Article 41 of the Republic of Bulgaria’s Constitution and with Ruling No. 7 of the Constitutional Court on constitutional case No. 1/1996.

Following a discussion the Committee resolved with 7 votes ‘for’ and 1 ‘abstained’ to propose to the MP’s to pass at first reading the Access to Public Information Bill No. 902-01-54, moved by the Council of Ministers.

Chairman of the Committee: /Svetoslav Luchnikov/