The fourteenth AIP access to information report contains:
- recommendations, related to the access to information legal regulation and its implementation with a focus on necessary amendments to the Access to Public Information Act;
- analysis of the effective access to information legislation with a focus on the control and oversight of the law implementation; the proactive publication of information; the e-access to information; the assisting of requestors; and the precision of exemptions;
- results from the 2014 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 2013;
- an overview of the developments in the FOI litigation in 2013, including summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.
The analysis, which AIP makes on the base of the effective legislation, the access to information provision practices, and the court decisions, substantiates the necessity for amendments to the Access to Public Information Act (APIA).
Specific recommendations which AIP formulates in its annual report with regard to the access to information legal regulation are:
- Signing and ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents;
- Amendments to the Access to Public Information Act which above all would provide for the establishment of an Information Commissioner. APIA amendments should also include:
- precision and unification of the standards for proactive disclosure of information;
- introduction of clear obligations to respond to e-requests and provide information electronically;
- precision of the access to information exemptions;
- strengthening and imposing of the sanctions for incompliance with the APIA.
Regarding APIA implementation, AIP recommends
- Public bodies to consider their internal APIA implementation rules in line with AIP recommendations;
- Public bodies to undertake measures to better implement their obligations under the APIA and the obligations for proactive disclosure of information, including financial information and information related to the integrity of the administration.
The Access to Information in Bulgaria 2013 report is online available in English: http://store.aip-bg.org/publications/ann_rep_eng/2013.pdf.
The Access to Information in Bulgaria 2013 report was prepared within AIP national Advocacy Campaign for Amendments to the Access to Information Legislation launched in the beginning of 2014. The purpose of the campaign is to draft a civil concept for amendments to the access to information legislation on the base of AIP 18 years of experience in the monitoring and advocacy for better transparency and accountability practices. The concept paper will be consulted through public discussions with 5 interested groups – journalists; NGOs and civil groups; IT specialists, bloggers, and business; FOI responsible public officials; and lawyers and judges.
In June and July 2014, AIP has held three public discussions: with journalists; IT specialists, bloggers, and business, and NGOs and civil groups: http://www.aip-bg.org/en/publicdebate/Are_APIA_Amendments_Necessary/106099/.
The project Advocacy Campaign for Amendments to the Access to Information Legislation is supported by a grant under the Fund for NGO Support in Bulgaria through the EEA Financial Mechanism 2009 – 2014.