Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year! 21.12.2015
The team of Access to Information Programme wishes you health and successful initiatives in 2016!
Amendments in Bulgarian law provide better electronic access to information 04.12.2015
On November 26, 2015, the Bulgarian National Assembly adopted at second reading amendments to the Access to Public Information Act (APIA). The amendments are directed at improvement of both the regulation for the provision of public information, as well as the regime of the so called re-use of public sector information. The Access to Information Programme has taken an active part in all stages of the public debate and consultation process.
Amendments to the Bulgarian ATI Law Adopted At First Reading in the Parliament 21.10.2015
On October 6, 2015, the Bulgarian National Assembly adopted at first reading amendments to the Access to Public Information Act (APIA). The amendments are being adopted in a dynamic context. AIP experts took part in all stages of the public debate and consultation and the subsequent four parliamentary committee’s sessions.
AIP Held the 13th Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony in Bulgaria 28.09.2015
Access to Information Programme held the 13th Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony on 28 September 2015. Nearly a hundred FOI activists from Sofia and the country gathered at the House of Europe in Sofia. The National Ombudsman, Mr. Konstantin Penchev, was a special guest. He addressed the audience, greeting the FOI advocates on the International Right to Know Day. Among the guests were the deputy minister of defense, partner NGOs, journalists, academia; officials from executive bodies and municipalities.
AIP Held a Workshop with the Journalists from its Coordinators’ Network 14.09.2015
The Access to Information Programme (AIP) held a workshop with the journalists from its coordinators’ network on 11-13 September 2015 in the city of Veliko Tarnovo. The workshop was held within the framework of the project Enhancing the Capacity of Nongovernmental Organizations to Seek Public Information supported by a grant under the NGO Programme in Bulgaria under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2009 - 2014 (http://www.ngogrants.bg).
AIP Annual Report Access to Information in Bulgaria 2014 10.07.2015
The fifteenth AIP annual report contains analysis of the proposed draft amendments to the Access to Public Information Act with regard to the introduction of the Directive 2013/37/EU on the Re-use of Public Sector Information; analysis of the results from the 2015 AIP audit on the active disclosure of public information online by the executive bodies; analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal help and consultation during 2014; an overview of the developments in the FOI litigation in 2014, including summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation. The report is prepared within the project Civil Center for Support of Transparency in Public Life, supported with a grant by the America for Bulgaria Foundation.
15 Years Access to Public Information Act 07.07.2015
On July 7, the Access to Information Programme held a press conference to mark 15 years of the Access to Public Information Act. In the eve of the 15th anniversary since the adoption of the Access to Public Information Act in Bulgaria, AIP reminded the important moments in the development of the law and the implementation practices. The APIA was promulgated in the State Gazette on July 7, 2000.
Information Days in Kardzhali and Haskovo 05.06.2015
On 3 and 4 June 2015, Access to Information Programme held two Access to Information Days in the towns of Kardzhali and Haskovo respectively. 99 representatives of regional and local administration, NGOs, journalists, and citizens from the two towns took part in the events organized by AIP. The Information Days are organized within the project Civil Center for Support of Transparency in Public Life, supported with a grant by the America for Bulgaria Foundation.
Information Days in Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo 15.05.2015
On 13 and 14 May 2015, Access to Information Programme held two Access to Information Days in the towns of Veliko Tarnovo and Gabrovo respectively. 71 representatives of regional and local administration, NGOs, journalists, and citizens from the two towns took part in the events organized by AIP. The Info Days are organized within the project Civil Center for Support of Transparency in Public Life, supported with a grant by the America for Bulgaria Foundation.
Journalistic Investigations 2015 15.05.2015
In May 2015, journalists who have won the First AIP Competition for Journalistic Investigations finished their work. Within January to April 2015, nine awarded journalists from national and regional media prepared and published articles, series of articles, and a book in national and regional media, blogs, social media.
2015 Active Transparency Rating in Bulgaria 15.04.2015
On April 15, 2015, at a press conference in Sofia, the Access to Information Programme presented the results of its 2015 Audit on Institutional web sites in Bulgaria. The updated 2015 Active Transparency Rating and the 2015 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map were launched. In the lack of a public body to coordinate and control the implementation of the APIA, including the obligations for proactive publication of information, the AIP Audit serves as a model publication scheme for public bodies to increase their active transparency.
Concept on Amendments to the Access to Public Information Legislation 13.04.2015
AIP prepared and published a Concept on Amendments to the Access to Public Information Legislation. The Concept aims to present a broad range of problems stemming from the Access to Public Information Act implementation practices and possible solutions for their overcoming
AIP Held the Annual Meeting with Its Coordinators 20.02.2015
On February 20, 2015 in Sofia, Access to Information Programme held the annual meeting with the journalists of its country-wide coordinators' network.