Surveys
Access to Information Programme has been permanently monitoring the legislation and the practices related to the access to information in Bulgaria. The results of the monitoring and the relevant analyses are incorporate part of the annual reports Access to Information in Bulgaria which AIP is publishing since the adoption of the Access to Public Information Act in 2000. On the base of these analyses, as well as on the analyses of the litigation, AIP formulates recommendations for improvement of the legislation and the practices with regard to the access to information and the obligations of the public bodies.
At the same time, AIP performs specialized audits and takes part in international access to information surveys.
Within the period March 1 – April 29, 2024 AIP team reviewed and assessed the web sites of 560 executive bodies on a central, regional, and local level, as well as public-law entities and independent state bodies. The aim of the audit is to evaluate the level of compliance of the executive bodies to fulfil their obligations for proactive disclosure of information online under the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) and to assess how they respond to electronic requests. Within the audit, 560 electronic requests were filed with the request to provide information about the number of court cases initiated against decisions of the respective public body under the Access to Public Information Act for the year of 2023. The 2024 transparency level was assessed based on: 94 indicators for the primary budget-managing bodies; 82 indicators for the territorial units of the central government bodies and for the secondary budget managing bodies; 116 indicators for the municipalities. The Ratings section allow for filtering according to the type of institutions surveyed and to the region they are in. The 2024 Transparency Map indicates the level of budget and financial transparency and integrity of Bulgarian Municipalities.
2023: AIP Audit on Administrative Courts Web Sites and Active Transparency Rating
The 2023 audit on transparency of administrative courts was performed for the first time within the period October 16 – 30, 2023 by three researchers from the AIP legal team with the review and assessment of the web sites of the 28 regional administrative courts and the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC). The aim of the audit is to evaluate how the courts within the administrative justice system in Bulgaria fulfill their obligations for proactive disclosure of information online and how they follow legal regulations regarding transparency and accountability. The 2023 transparency level was assessed along a checklist of 46 indicators. Here are the Results per indicators can be accessed in English for each administrative court. The 2023 Ranking is available here
The 2023 audit was performed within the period April 1 - June 5, 2023 by AIP team. The web sites of 562 executive bodies on a central, regional, and local level, as well as public-law entities and independent state bodies were reviewed and assessed along a checklist of indicators. Within the audit, 562 electronic requests were filed with the request to provide information about the number of court cases initiated against decisions of the respective public body under the Access to Public Information Act for the year of 2022. The 2023 transparency level was assessed along a checklist of 108 indicators for the primary budget-managing bodies, 118 indicators for the municipalities, and 94 indicators for the territorial units of the central government bodies and for the secondary budget managing bodies. The Ratings section allow for filtering according to the type of institutions surveyed and to the region they are in. The 2023 Transparency Map indicates the level of budget and financial transparency and integrity of Bulgaria's 265 Municipalities.
The 2022 audit was performed within the period April 1 - June 10, 2022 by nine researchers from the AIP team. The web sites of 563 executive bodies on a central, regional, and local level, as well as public-law entities and independent state bodies were reviewed and assessed along a checklist of indicators. Within the audit, 563 electronic requests were filed with the request to provide information about the number of court cases initiated against decisions of the respective public body under the Access to Public Information Act for the year of 2021. The Comparative Rankings are designed to show the development of the active transparency of institutions within the executive. The Ratings section allow for filtering according to the type of institutions surveyed and to the region they are in. The 2022 Transparency Map indicates the level of budget and financial transparency and integrity of Bulgaria's 265 Municipalities.
2021: First AIP Audit on Administrative Courts Web Sites and Active Transparency Rating
The 2021 audit on transparency of administrative courts was performed for the first time within the period July 23 – August 23, 2021 by three researchers from the AIP legal team with the review and assessment of the web sites of the 28 regional administrative courts and the Supreme Administrative Court (SAC). The aim of the audit is to evaluate how the courts within the administrative justice system in Bulgaria fulfill their obligations for proactive disclosure of information online and how they follow legal regulations regarding transparency and accountability. The 2021 transparency level was assessed along a checklist of 46 indicators. Here the Results per indicators can be accessed in English for each administrative court. The Ranking is available here.
2021: AIP Audit on Institutional Web Sites. 2021 Active Transparency Rating. 2021 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map
The 2021 audit was performedin the period March 1 - April 29, 2021 by eight researchers from the AIP team. The web sites of 563 executive bodies on a central, regional, and local level, as well as public-law entities and independent state bodies were reviewed and assessed along a checklist of indicators. Within the audit, 563 electronic requests were filed with the request to provide an updated list for the year 2020 of the categories of information, subject to mandatory publication online concerning the sphere of activity of the respective administration as well as the formats in which it is available - an obligation that came into force with the Article 15a APIA amendments in the end of 2015. The Comparative Rankings are designed to show the development of the active transparency of institutions within the executive. The Ratings section allow for filtering according to the type of institutions surveyed and to the region they are in. The 2021 Transparency Map indicates the level of budget and financial transparency and integrity of Bulgaria's 265 Municipalities.
The 2020 audit was performed from February 10 to April 15, 2020 by eight researchers from the AIP team. The web sites of 562 executive bodies on a central, regional, and local level, as well as public-law entities and independent state bodies were reviewed and assessed along a checklist of indicators. Within the audit, 562 electronic requests were filed with the request to provide an updated list for the year 2019 of the categories of information, subject to mandatory publication online concerning the sphere of activity of the respective administration as well as the formats in which it is available - an obligation that came into force with the Article 15a APIA amendments in the end of 2015. The Comparative Ratings are designed to show the development of the active transparency of institutions within the executive. The Ratings section allow for filtering according to the type of institutions surveyed and to the region they are in. The 2020 Transparency Map indicates the level of budget and financial transparency and integrity of Bulgaria's 265 Municipalities.
2019: AIP Audit on 564 Institutional Web Sites. 2019 Active Transparency Rating. 2019 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map
Within the period 22 February – 31 March 2019, eight researchers from the AIP team reviewed 564 web sites of executive bodies at a central, regional, and local level, and also public-law entities and independent state bodies and assessed them along a checklist of 119 indicators, 133 indicators for the municipalities, and 96 indicators for the territorial units of the central government bodies. 564 electronic requests were filed for the annual report on the APIA implementation in 2018. The 2019 Active Transparency Ratings were launched, and the updated 2019 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map. Comparative 2017, 2018, and 2019 Ratings show the development of the active transparency of Bulgarian institutions.
Within the period 6 February – 30 March 2018, a team of seven researcher reviewed and evaluated 567 web sites of executive bodies at a central, regional, and local level, and also public-law entities and independent state bodies. 567 electronic requests were filed for the annual report on the APIA implementation in 2017. Executive bodies websites were reviewed and assessed along a checklist of 108 (122 for the municipalities) indicators. The 2018 Active Transparency Ratings was launched, and the updated 2018 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map. Comparative Ratings show the development of the active transparency of Bulgarian institutions.
Within the period 7 February – 31 March 2017, a team of Access to Information Programme reviewed 566 web sites of executive bodies at a central, regional, and local level, and also public-law entities and independent state bodies and assessed them along a checklist of 118 (139 for the municipalities) indicators. The maximum score is 99,2 (111,7 for municipalities). 566 electronic requests were filed for the list of the categories of information, subject to mandatory publication online concerning the sphere of activity of the respective administration, as well as the formats in which it is available. The 2017 Active Transparency Ratings were launched, and the updated 2017 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map. Comparative 2015, 2017, and 2017 Ratings show the development of the active transparency of Bulgarian institutions.
Within the period 10 March – 23 April 2016, a team of Access to Information Programme reviewed and evaluated 565 web sites of executive bodies at a central, regional, and local level, and also public-law entities and 7 independent state bodies. 565 electronic requests were filed for copies of the document that regulates the internal record management within the respective institution.. The level of transparency was evaluated by points on the base of 118 (126 for municipalities) indicators. The possible total was 81 (88 for municipalities). A set of indocators evaluates the implementation of the obligations under the amended Public Procurements Act. The 2016 Active Transparency Ratings was launched, and the updated 2016 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map. Comparative Ratings show the development of the active transparency of Bulgarian institutions.
Within the period 23 February – 23 March 2015, a team of Access to Information Programme reviewed and evaluated 544 web sites of 544 executive bodies at a central, regional, and local level, and also public-law entities and 7 independent state bodies. 542 electronic requests were filed for copies of the orders assigning the information officers within the respective public bodies and their job descriptions. The level of transparency was evaluated by points on the base of 72 (81 for municipalities) indicators. The possible total was 143.5 (158.5 for municipalities). The indicators are updated in line with the new obligations for proactive publication of information online introduced with the 2015 Access to Public Information Act amendments. The 2015 Active Transparency Rating was launched, and the updated 2015 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map. Comparative 2013, 2014 and 2015 Ratings show the development of the active transparency of Bulgarian institutions.
Within the period 3 February – March 2014, a team of Access to Information Programme reviewed and evaluated 534 web sites of 535 executive bodies at a central, regional, and local level, and also public-law entities and 7 independent state bodies. 535 electronic requests were filed for a copy of the last public procurement contract signed by the institution in 2013. Focus of the 2014 audit is the Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity. A special section with new set of indicators was integrated in the audit module. The level of transparency was evaluated by points on the base of 66 (75 for municipalities) indicators. The possible total was 69.4 (82.4 for municipalities). In order to even better illustration of the active transparency situation in Bulgaria, besides the updated 2014 Active Transparency Rating, the results are visualized in a 2014 Budget, Financial Transparency and Integrity of Municipalities Map. Comparative 2012, 2013, 2014 Ratings show the development of the active transparency of Bulgarian institutions. All results are in English for the first time.
2013: AIP Audit on Institutional Web Sites. 2013 Active Transparency Rating
Within the period 7 – 25 January 2013, a team of Access to Information Programme reviewed and evaluated 489 web sites of 490 executive bodies at a central, regional, and local level, and also public-law entities and 7 independent state bodies. 490 electronic requests were filed for a copy of the last public procurement contract signed by the institution in 2012. On the base of the indicators, AIP launched an updated 2013 Active Transparency Rating. The three additional indicators for the local-government bodies allowed for the launch of a separate Active Transparency Rating of the Municipalities in Bulgaria.
2012: AIP Audit on Institutional Web Sites. First Active Transparency Rating
Within the period 23.01 – 16.03, 2012, the team of AIP performed an audit on public bodies' web sites with the purpose to evaluate the implementation of the obligations under the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) for online publication of certain categories of information and under other regulations for active disclosure of public information by the executive power bodies at a central, regional, and local level. AIP audited 474 web sites of 487 administrative structures of the executive power. The level of transparency was assessed on the base of 39 or 40 (for the municipalities) indicators. Based on the indicators, AIP launched the Active Transparency Rating in Bulgaria.
2011: Public Registers in Bulgaria
Within the period June 2011 – March 2012, AIP reviewed and identified the legal basis for the creation and maintaining of public registers, reviewed the existing online registers, filed access to information requests to 485 institutions about the public registers they maintained and incorporated the results in the Public Registers Portal. The results show 3,945 public registers maintained by central, regional, and local authorities; 516 public registers should be accessible online by law; 623 public registers are accessible online; access to 3,927 public registers is free.
2011: AIP Audit on Institutional Web Sites
Within 22.02 - 25.03.2011, the team of AIP made an assessment of the Internet sites of the executive power bodies. The purpose was to evaluate the implementation of the obligations under the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) for online publication of certain categories of information and under other regulations for active disclosure of public information by the executive power bodies at a central, regional, and local level. AIP has reviewed 495 web sites out of a total of 516 institutions. 21 institutions still do not have official web sites.
2010: AIP Audit on Institutional Web Sites
AIP performed the assessment of the institutional web sites within 10.02.2010 - 02.03.2010 with the purpose to evaluate the implementation of the obligations under Art. 15a of the Access to Public Information Act for online publication of certain categories of information by the executive power bodies at a central, regional, and lical level. Pursuant to the December 2008 amendments to the APIA, the period for preparation ended in December 2009. AIP has reviewed 499 web sites out of a total of 511.
A second wave of a representative public opinion poll on public attitudes regarding the right of access to information was performed by Market LINKS at the demand of AIP in February 2010. Main results show that 39% of respondents are aware of their right of access to information.
2009: Active Disclosure and Electronic Access to Information
The survey was performed within the period 10.02-05.03.2009. The survey was prepared by the team of AIP and aimed to evaluate the readiness of the institutions to answer requests submitted electronically.
2008: Active Disclosure of of Information by Bulgarian Public Institutions
The study was conducted between February 18 and March 02 of 2008. Like in the two previous years, 411 public institutions were selected for review from the official Register of Administrative Structures
2007: Active Disclosure of Information by Executive Power Bodies
The aim of this study, which was conducted by AIP between March 24 and March 31, 2007, was to check how local governmental authorities and institutions of the executive branch make use of the Internet to publish important information on their own initiative and whether citizens are being accommodated when seeking information on the official institutional websites. 411 public institutions were selected for review from the official Register of Administrative Structures
The aim of the study, which was conducted by AIP between February 20 - March 5, 2006, was to assess whether and how the executive power bodies and the municipalities use their Internet sites to disclose information and to facilitate citizens' access to information. 411 public institutions were selected for review from the official Register of Administrative Structures.
The survey methodology was developed by Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) and the 2003 Global Monitoring Pilot Survey was carried out in five countries. In 2004, the Access to Information Monitoring Tool was applied in 16 countries. The comparative analyses of the results was published in the Transparency and Silence: A Survey of Access to Information Laws and Practices in 14 Countries.
The analyses of the results from the 2004 Global Monitoring of Compliance with Freedom of Information Laws in Bulgaria is part of AIP annual report Access to Information in Bulgaria 2004.
2003: Global Monitoring of Compliance with Freedom of Information Laws - Bulgaria
In 2003, the team of AIP was part of an international global monitoring projects for assessing the freedom of information practices. The survey methodology was developed by Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI). The 2003 Global Monitoring Pilot Survey was carried out by national teams in five countries - Armenia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Peru, and South Africa. The analysis of the results from the 2003 Global Monitoring is available on the web site of the Open Society Justice Initiative.
In Bulgaria the monitoring started on May 2003 (7th and 19th) with the filing of a total of one hundred requests to eighteen institutions by ten requestors. The second stage of the monitoring started in July with promotion requests, filed by the heads of the
national teams. The third monitoring stage was a structured interview with the information officials in the institutions, selected in the first two request stages.
Analyses of the results from Bulgaria is part of AIP annual report Access to Public Information in Bulgaria 2003.
The report on the results of the sociological survey “Fulfillment of the Obligations under APIA by the Bodies of the Executive Power 2002” outlines developments in the implementation of the Access to Public Information Act during the previous year. The survey was carried out within the period October 10 – 30, 2002 and covered all central bodies of the executive power and their territorial branches, as defined by the Administration Act and listed in the Register of the Administrative structures. Also, interviews with officials from the 101 largest municipalities
in Bulgaria by population were carried out. Out of the 394 institutions addressed for cooperation, 308 agreed to respond. In the rest of the cases, a silent or explicit refusal was given.
Results from the survey are also part of the annual report Current Situation of Access to Information In Bulgaria 2002
The objective of the survey Fulfillment of the obligations under Access to Public Information Act by the Bodies of the Executive Power was to outline the conditions, preparedness, and the problems that have emerged in the process of APIA implementation. The survey was carried out within the period within September 25 – October 30, 2001 and covered all central bodies of the executive power and their territorial branches, as defined by the Administration Act and listed in the Register of the Administrative structures, as well as the 100 largest municipalities
in Bulgaria by population. Out of the 363 institutions addressed for cooperation, 303 agreed to respond.
The results are also part of the annual report The Current Situation of the Access to Public Information in Bulgaria 2001
2001: Fulfillment of the Obligations under the Access to Public Information Act by the Bodies of the Executive Power (Findings of the Pilot Survey Conducted by AIP)
The objective of the survey conducted by the AIP team was to check whether the active obligations under Access to Public Information Act were fulfilled five months after the effective date of the law.
The survey was conducted from 1 December 2000 to 9 March 2001 in 26 regional cities across the country. Over the period from 1 to 15 December 2000, 22 AIP coordinators carried out the survey in the regional subdivisions of central government bodies and the local administration. In the beginning of February 2001, the new AIP coordinators carried out the survey in 3 more regional cities. A month later, in March 2001, the report on the Sofia Municipality and the central government bodies (ministries and other institutions) was added to the already collected data. The survey was based on a questionnaire. There were direct interviews of the heads of the relevant bodies or the heads of press centers and PR offices.
The results are part of the first annual report The Current Situation of the Access to Public Information in Bulgaria
2000: Public Registers Situation
The report published in February 2000 outlines the condition of public registers, both from the point of view of public authorities and of information seekers. It contains a systematic overview of the regulated registers in Bulgaria. The selection of the registers studied was aimed at facilitating public access to the greatest extent, which is why we chose the registers for which the demand for information was highest.