AIP prepared the first version of a Report on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice on Environmental Matters 11.10.2004
Access to Information Programme prepared the first version of a Report on Access to Information, Public Participation and Access to Justice on Environmental Matters. The report, which is currently under review by NGOS, officials and scientists, was prepared using the methodology of The Access Initiative of the World Resources Institute.
AIP organized a Regional Conference "Advocacy for Freedom of Information - Independent Monitoring" 11.10.2004
On May 14-15 in Sofia, AIP organized a Regional Conference- "Advocacy for Freedom of Information - Independent Monitoring". A number of organizations presented their experience in monitoring and advocacy for adoption or improved implementation of FOI laws in the region.
Justice Initiative has released the executive summary of its 2003 Pilot FOI Monitoring Report 28.09.2004
On Sep. 28, 2004 the Justice Initiative has released the executive summary of its 2003 Pilot FOI Monitoring Report. The full report will be released shortly. The 2004 16-country monitoring is already well advanced and results will be released much more quickly than with this pilot.
FOIAnet Celebrates the International Right to Know Day 28.09.2004
The Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet) celebrates the international Right to Know Day. On a press conference on Sep. 28 AIP presented awards to citizens, media and NGOs, who have actively exercised their rights to freedom of information. Two awards - a positive and a negative one - will be given to institutions. More information on the 2004 Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony in Bulgariaa at the special web site: www.RightToKnowDay.net.
Government transparency under scrutiny in South-East Europe 11.09.2004
The benefits of greater transparency for Southeast European countries plagued by corruption and low public trust in government was the subject of discussion in featuring government officials and civil society groups from across the region in a seminar in Budva, Montenegro, September 9-10, 2004.
The Supreme Administrative Court obliged the Minister of Interior to provide access to archival documents 12.05.2004
While studying the facts surrounding the assassination of the Bulgarian journalist Georgi Markov in London in the 1970s, the journalist Hristo Hristov requested access to Ministry of Interior archival documents containing security services files about the Bulgarian units of BBC, Free Europe and Deusche Welle. Initially the Minister did not respond to the information request, but then claimed that such documents were not kept in the archive of the Ministry of Interior. The appeal against the refusal was filed with the assistance of AIP but was rejected by the three-member panel of SAC.
AIP published the Annual Report Access to Information in Bulgaria 2003 11.05.2004
AIP has published the report "Access to Information in Bulgaria 2003". The purpose of this report is to summarize the developments in the freedom of information legislation and its implementation. The problems of the implementation of the right to information access outlined by the reporting team allow us to make certain conclusions on a practical and political level, in an attempt to improve the practices of providing access to information. This is the reason why this report starts with recommendations for the legislative and executive bodies of power in Bulgaria.
The Supreme Administrative Court repealed the refusal of the Minister of Finance to disclose the Crown Agents contract 22.03.2004
The five-member panel of the Supreme administrative court of Bulgaria confirmed the decision of the three-member panel on administrative case № 3080/2003. The decision of the three-member panel had reversed the refusal of the Minister of Finance to disclose a copy of the contract between the Ministry and Crown Agents to Kiril Terziiski. The court file has been referred back to the Minister of Finance, who is now obliged to reconcider the information request. The court decision is final and is not subject to further appeal.
Bulgarian Access to Information Litigation 2003 11.02.2004
The book presents important Supreme Administrative Court decisions on the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) from the end of 2002 until March 2004.
AIP published a handbook "How to Get Access to Environmental Information" 11.02.2004
AIP published a handbook "How to Get Access to Environmental Information" with the support by a grant from the Regional Environmental Center of Central and Eastern Europe and with the support of te Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands within the Regional Environment Reconstruction Programme for South Eastern Europe (REReP).