Annual Reports on the State of Access to Information

On July 9, 2024, Access to Information Programme presented the findings and conclusions from its annual Access to Information in Bulgaria report. 

The report is being prepared and published by the Access to Information Program (AIP) team every year since the adoption of the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) in the summer of 2000.

The AIP report contains:

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation;
• assessment of the regulations in the access to information area;
• analysis of the results from the assessment of the proactive transparency of 560 institutions for 2023;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal aid and consultation during 2023, including for representation in court.

The 2023 report also contains 7 Annexes:

Annex 1: Institutional Information - Legal Basis, Functions, Public Services, Information Data Bases and Information Resources
Annex 2: Operational Information - Acts, Development Strategies, Plans, Activities and Activity Reports
Annex 3: Financial Transparency - Budget, Financial, Public Procurement, and Integrity Information 
Annex 4: Access to Information Section - Information about the right of access to information and how to exercise it
Annex 5: Data Only for MUNICIPALITIES
Annex 6: Information sought - Summary of Data from the AIP Data Base with Cases Referred for Consultation and Legal Help in 2022
Annex 7: Litigation 2023 - Annotation of Cases

Find the Report in Bulgarian HERE.

This report is prepared within the project Access to Information and Transparency Advice Center supported by a grant from America for Bulgaria Fondation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the Access to Information Programme and do not necessarily reflect the views of teh America for Bulgaria Foundation or its affiliates.

On July 19, 2023, Access to Information Programme presented the findings and conclusions from its annual Access to Information in Bulgaria report. 

The report is being prepared and published by the Access to Information Program (AIP) team every year since the adoption of the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) in the summer of 2000.

The AIP report contains:

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation;
• assessment of the regulations in the access to information area;
• analysis of the results from the assessment of the proactive transparency of 562 institutions for 2022;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal aid and consultation during 2022, including for representation in court.

The 2022 report also contains 7 Annexes:

Annex 1: Institutional Information - Legal Basis, Functions, Public Services, Information Data Bases and Information Resources
Annex 2: Operational Information - Acts, Development Strategies, Plans, Activities and Activity Reports
Annex 3: Financial Transparency - Budget, Financial, Public Procurement, and Integrity Information 
Annex 4: Access to Information Section - information about the right of access to information and how to exercise it
Annex 5: Data Only for MUNICIPALITIES
Annex 6: Information sought - Summary of Data from the AIP Data Base with Cases Referred for Consultation and Legal Help in 2022
Annex 7: Litigation 2022- Annotation of Cases

Find the Report in Bulgarian HERE.

This report is prepared within the project Access to Information and Transparency Advice Center supported by a grant from America for Bulgaria Fondation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the Access to Information Programme and do not necessarily reflect the views of teh America for Bulgaria Foundation or its affiliates.

On July 15, 2022, Access to Information Programme presented the findings and conclusions from its annual Access to Information in Bulgaria report. 

The report is being prepared and published by the Access to Information Program (AIP) team every year since the adoption of the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) in the summer of 2000.

The AIP report contains:

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation;
• assessment of the regulations in the access to information area;
• analysis of the results from the assessment of the proactive transparency of 563 institutions for 2021;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal aid and consultation during 2021, including for representation in court.

The 2021 report also contains 7 Annexes:

Annex 1: Institutional Information - Legal Basis, Functions, Public Services, Information Data Bases and Information Resources
Annex 2: Operational Information - Acts, Development Strategies, Plans, Activities and Activity Reports
Annex 3: Financial Transparency - Budget, Financial, Public Procurement, and Integrity Information 
Annex 4: Access to Information Section - information about the right of access to information and how to exercise it
Annex 5: Data Only for MUNICIPALITIES
Annex 6: Information sought - Summary of Data from the AIP Data Base with Cases Referred for Consultation and Legal Help in 2021
Annex 7: Litigation 2021 - Annotation of Cases

Find the Report in Bulgarian HERE.

This report is prepared within the project Access to Information Forum with the financial support Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria under the EEA Financial Mechanism.

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation;
• assessment of the regulations in the access to information area;
• analysis of the results from the assessment of the proactive transparency of 563 institutions for 2020;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal aid and consultation during 2020, including for representation in court.

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation;
• assessment of the regulations in the access to information area;
• analysis of the results from the assessment of the proactive transparency of 562 institutions for 2020;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal aid and consultation during 2019, including for representation in court.

• Recommendations identified in view of the 2020 Active Transparency Rating;
• Summary of budget and financial transparency, public procurement and integrity 2020;
• Trends in case law in access to information cases supported by AIP in 2019;
• Summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation;
• assessment of the regulations in the access to information area;
• analysis of the results from the assessment of the proactive transparency of 564 institutions for 2019;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal aid and consultation during 2018, including for representation in court;
• trends in case law in access to information cases supported by AIP in 2018 and and summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation;
• assessment of the regulations in the access to information area;
• analysis of the results from the assessment of the proactive transparency of 567 institutions for 2018;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal help and consultation during 2017;
• tendencies in the court practices on access to information cases in 2017 and summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation;
• assessment of the regulations in the access to information area;
• analysis of the results from the assessment of the proactive transparency of 566 institutions for 2017;
• analyses of the access to information cases referred to AIP for legal help and consultation during 2016;
• tendencies in the court practices on access to information cases in 2016 and summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

• recommendations related to the access to information legal framework and its implementation, as well as other obligations granting transparency;
• detailed review of the amendments to the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) as of December 2015;
• analysis of the 2015 APIA amendments with regard to the proactive publication of information online;
• what are the institutions addressed and what type of information was sought by the requestors who turned for legal help to AIP in 2015;
• tendencies in the court practices on access to information cases in 2015 and summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

• 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.

• 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 from the point of view of the international standards in the access to information area;
• 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.

• recommendations for facilitating the access to information and increasing the transparency and accountability of the public administration;
• detailed analysis of the effective access to information legislation with a focus on proactive publication of information; control and oversight of the law implementation; precision of exemptions; the provision of information by e-mail; assisting of requestors;
• results from the 2013 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 2012;
• an overview of the developments in the FOI litigation in 2012, including summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

• recommendations for facilitating the access to information and increasing the transparency and accountability of the public administration;
• detailed analysis of the effective access to information legislation with a focus on the Internal Access to Public Information Act  Implementation Rules of the public bodies;
• results from the 2012 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 2011;
• an overview of the developments in the FOI litigation in 2011, including summaries of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

• 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.

• recommendations for facilitating the access to information and increasing the transparency and accountability of public administration with a focus on the implementation o fthe obligations for online publication;
• comparative analysis between the Access to Public Information Act and the Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents ;
• results from the survey on the online publication of certain categories of information by the administrative structures of the executive power;
• analyses of the access to information cases consulted by AIP legal team during 2009;
• an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2009, including resumes of cases in which AIP has provided court representation;
• results from a representative public opinion poll on public attitudes regarding the right of access to information.

The report includes:

• detailed analysis of the 2008 changes in ATI legislation and practices with a special emphasis on the the 2008 amendments to the Access to Public Information Act;
• results from a survey on whether and how the institutions handle electronic requests;
• characteristics of the specific cases consulted by Access to Information Programme legal team;
• and an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2009, including resumes of cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

The report includes:

• detailed analysis of the existing FOI legislation and ammendments;
• results from monitoring on the active provision of information by the institutions on their web sites;
• characteristics of the specific cases consulted by Access to Information Programme;
• and an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2007, including resumes of all cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

The report includes:

• detailed analysis of the existing FOI legislation and ammendments;
• results from monitoring on the active provision of information by the institutions on their web sites;
• characteristics of the specific cases consulted by Access to Information Programme;
• and an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2006, including resumes of all cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

The Report contains recommendations for improving the freedom of information legislation, the connected legislation and the practices within the Bulgarian public institutions.

The report includes:

• detailed analysis of the existing FOI legislation and ammendments;
• results from monitoring on the active provision of information by the institutions on their web sites;
• characteristics of the specific cases consulted by Access to Information Programme;
• and an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2005, including resumes of all cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

The Report contains recommendations for improving the freedom of information legislation, the connected legislation and the practices within the Bulgarian public institutions.

The report includes:

• detailed analysis of the existing FOI legislation and ammendments;
• results from the Global monitoring of compliance with freedom of information laws in Bulgaria, conducted in 2004
• characteristics of the specific cases consulted by Access to Information Programme;
• and an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2004, including resumes of all cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

The Report contains recommendations for improving the freedom of information legislation, the connected legislation and the practices within the Bulgarian public institutions.

The report includes:

• detailed analysis of the existing FOI legislation and ammendments;
• results from the Global monitoring of compliance with freedom of information laws in Bulgaria, conducted in 2003
• characteristics of the specific cases consulted by Access to Information Programme;
• and an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2003, including resumes of all cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

• detailed analysis of the existing FOI legislation and ammendments;
• results from the survey Fulfillment of the Obligations under APIA by the bodies of the Executive power, conducted in 2002;
• characteristics of the specific cases consulted by Access to Information Programme;
• and an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2002, including resumes of all cases in which AIP has provided court representation.

The first annual report of the Access to Information Programme outlines the developments in access to information legislation and its implementation practices. The report focuses on the most important event for 2000: the adoption of the Bulgarian Access to Public Information Act. We also analyse the practices in use before the adoption of the law, when citizens, journalists, and NGOs exercised their right to information using the provision of Art. 41 of the Bulgarian Constitution and other laws.

The Report contains recommendations for improving the freedom of information legislation, the connected legislation and the practices within the Bulgarian public institutions.

The report includes:

• detailed analysis of the existing FOI legislation and ammendments;
• results from the pilot study Fulfillment of the Obligations under APIA by the bodies of the Executive power, conducted in 2000
• characteristics of the specific cases consulted by Access to Information Programme;
• and an overview of the most interesting developments in the FOI litigation in 2000, including resumes of all cases in which AIP has provided court representation.