NGO Compensates for Administrative and Regulatory Deficiencies (AIP Experience in Bulgaria)

NGO Compensates for Administrative and NGO Compensates for Administrative and Regulatory Deficiencies (AIP Experience in Regulatory Deficiencies (AIP Experience in

Bulgaria)Bulgaria)Gergana JoulevaGergana Jouleva,, PhD, PhD,

Executive director, Executive director, Access to Information ProgrammeAccess to Information Programme

WWWW.AIP-BG.ORGWW.AIP-BG.ORGAccess to Information Access to Information

ProgrammeProgramme

Access to Information ProgrammeAccess to Information Programme WWWW.AIP-BG.ORGWW.AIP-BG.ORG

Challenges in period of political Challenges in period of political and constitutional changesand constitutional changes 1989- 1989-

19971997 Access to environmental information Access to environmental information Access to documents of former security Access to documents of former security

servicesservices Citizenry lacks means of controlling the Citizenry lacks means of controlling the

government – public trust towards government – public trust towards governmentgovernment

Culture of secrecyCulture of secrecy New media legislation – Public New media legislation – Public

(government controlled media), (government controlled media), commercial mediacommercial media

Frequent political changesFrequent political changes


Results in campaign for adoption Results in campaign for adoption of Access to Public Information Act of Access to Public Information Act

APIAAPIA

Adoption of APIA in 2000Adoption of APIA in 2000 Adoption of DP and PCI legislation (2002)Adoption of DP and PCI legislation (2002) Public discussions on the draft legislationPublic discussions on the draft legislation Elucidation of the APIRElucidation of the APIR Development of country networkDevelopment of country network


New Challenges in the beginning of New Challenges in the beginning of the implementation (2000)the implementation (2000)

Common Common Administration was not prepared to fulfill Administration was not prepared to fulfill

its obligations its obligations Necessity for further elucidation of the Necessity for further elucidation of the

lawlaw Specific Specific No oversight and enforcement body No oversight and enforcement body Unclearly outlined exemptions from the Unclearly outlined exemptions from the

right to information accessright to information access


Advocacy for the implementation of Advocacy for the implementation of APIA (Bulgaria)APIA (Bulgaria)

TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXERSIZE THEIR TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXERSIZE THEIR RIGTHS UNDER APIARIGTHS UNDER APIA

Handbook How to Use APIA Handbook How to Use APIA Handbook for JournalistsHandbook for Journalists Trainings for journalists, NGOsTrainings for journalists, NGOs Legal help and advice including Legal help and advice including

court representationcourt representation Elucidation of the Access to Information Rights Elucidation of the Access to Information Rights

through media and other public eventsthrough media and other public events


Advocacy for the implementation Advocacy for the implementation of APIAof APIA

TO PUSH GOVERNEMENT BODIES TO APPLY TO PUSH GOVERNEMENT BODIES TO APPLY THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER APIA THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER APIA

Monitoring the implementation – Surveys, Monitoring the implementation – Surveys, Annual reportsAnnual reports

Monitoring the secondary legislation – Monitoring the secondary legislation – Annual reports with recommendationsAnnual reports with recommendations

Handbook for the administrationHandbook for the administration Trainings for the administration Trainings for the administration


Access to information awareness in Bulgaria Access to information awareness in Bulgaria

Annual data (in percentages)

28,2

22,6

15,5

19,2

13

11,8

10,1

12,6

8

8,8

6

26,9

0 10 20 30

2002

2004

2005

2006

Source: National Center for Public Opinion Polls

Exercised access toinformation rightsAware of theprocedureAware of access toinformation rights


International Right to Know DayInternational Right to Know DaySeptember 28 September 28

www.righttoknowday.netwww.righttoknowday.net

http://www.righttoknowday.net/


International International Right to Know Right to Know

DayDaySeptember 28September 28

www.RightToKnowDay.netwww.RightToKnowDay.net


http://www.foiadvocates.nethttp://www.foiadvocates.net


New ChallengesNew Challenges

BG Legislation and EU DirectivesBG Legislation and EU Directives E-APIAE-APIA Transparency of Government Transparency of Government

contractscontracts Transparency of the reports of the Transparency of the reports of the

implementation of these contractsimplementation of these contracts Necessity of further elucidation of the Necessity of further elucidation of the

right right


THANK YOU!THANK YOU!


Handbook for citizensHandbook for citizens


Handbook Handbook for for

journalistsjournalists


Annual reports (2000-2005)Annual reports (2000-2005)


Handbook for Handbook for administrationadministration

20052005


Freedom of Information Litigation in Freedom of Information Litigation in Bulgaria. Selected casesBulgaria. Selected cases..

NGO Compensates for Administrative and Regulatory Deficiencies (AIP Experience in Bulgaria)

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