Responding to the New Demand for Freedom of Information
April 8, 2010 – April 8, 2013
Financed by America for Bulgaria Foundation

The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) assists in the development and growth of a vibrant private sector in Bulgaria, helping the country to realize its full potential as a successful, modern European nation. Founded in 2008, the ABF is a successor to the Bulgarian American Enterprise Fund, an investment fund created by the U.S. government acting through the U.S. Agency for International Development. The grants provided by ABF will build on the legacy of goodwill and friendship that exists between the American people and the citizens of Bulgaria.

The goals of the project are to:

• Improve the provision, flow and quality of AIP services on local, national levels, to information seekers and international networks;
• Raise public awareness on new standards in the access to information area and develop tools for self education of information seekers to exercise their right to know;
• Advocate for implementation of new standards in the access to information area.

Activities:

1. Development and integration of a new design and structure of AIP web site
2. Monitoring and comments on access to information legislation and practice; initiation of debates on problematic issues through the enhanced web-resources
3. Proactive legal help provided electronically
4. Dissemination and exchange of knowledge about FOI rights in local and international networks

Right to Know Day 2011 The 9th Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony in Bulgaria was held on 28 September in the Bulgarian News Agency, Sofia. Access to Information Programme opened the event with the song “Breathe.” The event was broadcast live on Internet. More than hundred people attended the ceremony.  Pictures are available at AIP web site: http://www.aip-bg.org/about/gallery/108773/ The awards committee has selected the winners in the six categories for the 2011 Right to Know Day Awards out of 59 nominations. The organization and holding of the 2010 Right to Know Day in Bulgaria is supported by a grant from the America for Bulgaria Foundation.

On May 04, 2011 AIP held a presconference in the Bulgarian News Agency to present its annual report Access to Information in Bulgaria 2010.The eleventh access to information report contains:

• recommendations for facilitating the access to information and increasing the transparency and accountability of public administration;
• detailed analysis of the existing FOI legislation and ammendments during 2010.
• results from the AIP assesment on the online publication of certain categories of information by the administrative structures of the executive power;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal help and consulation during 2010;
• an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2010, including summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

The focus of the report is the active publication of information, the need for control over the implementation of the obligations and sactions for failure to comply with the requirements of the law.

The Report is published with the financial support of the Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE Trust) in the framework of the project Support to Access to Information Programme as a Freedom of Information Civic Resource Center (FOICRC), and America for Bulgaria Foundation within the framework of the project Responding to the New Demand for Freedom of Information – both implemented by Access to Information Programme.

AIP launched its updated web site AIP web site is with a new design, dynamic content, interactive structure and improved navigation within the information and training materials. The specialize section How to get access? contains an interactive handbook with practical guidance on how citizens to search and obtain information from obliged institutions. The updated web site is connected with AIP blog Access Point and has the social networks sharing option. The update of AIP web site is within the project Responding to the New Demand for Freedom of Information, supported by a grant from the America for Bulgaria Foundation.

Access to Information Programme has launched its Facebook page.

Right to Know Day 2010
The eighth annual Right to Know Day Awards Ceremony in Bulgaria was held on September 28, 2010 at 5 p.m. in the National Press Center of the Bulgarian News Agency (49 Tsarigradsko shose Blvd) in Sofia.
The awards committee chose the winners in six categories out of 45 collected nominations.
See pictures from the ceremony on AIP Facebook page.

The organization and holding of the 2010 Right to Know Day in Bulgaria is supported by a grant from the America for Bulgaria Foundation and from the Trust for Civil Society in CEE.

Access Point: AIP launched its blog. You can find news and comments on hot access to information topics. Still only in Bulgarian.

The launch and the updating of the blog is being made possible due to a grant from the America for Bulgaria Foundation

AIP communication officer, Diana Bancheva, completed a six-weeks fellowship with the purpose of exchange of experience with the National Security Archive, Washington, USA (May 29 – July 10).