Unhindered access to information of public importance is important for the European Union, and Serbia is on the right track, it was said today during the celebration of the International Day of the Right of the Public to Know, organized by the Office of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Protection of Personal Data.
Manuel Munteanu, Head of Information, Communication and Media of the EU Delegation to Serbia, said that access to information ensures that citizens have the right information, which means that an informed individual can make the right decisions.
“The European Union has provided guidelines for Serbia, our experts have been in contact with the Commissioner since last year and that work will continue”, Munteanu said.
He emphasized that the implementation of the law is of key importance and the administrative silence must end.
Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Jan Bratu, said that journalists have reduced their demands to the Commissioner during 2022.
During the celebration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information, Bratu said that in 2022, a total of 13,200 cases were opened in connection with the violation of the right to information of public importance. As he pointed out, this means that citizens want and demand that information, as well as the accountability for not providing information.
Nadia Ćuk, Acting Head of the Council of Europe Mission to Belgrade, said that good regulation, cross-border protection and harmonization of regulations are needed for the protection of personal data and free access to information of public importance.
The USAID Serbia Mission Director Brooke Isham said that a lot of work is needed to ensure the protection of information and access to information, stating that USAID in Serbia will continue to support important initiatives.
At the ceremony, awards were given to the improvement of the right to free access to information, and this year no award was given in the category of the highest authorities.
In 2017, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared September 28 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information, and the UN General Assembly also adopted September 28, 2019 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information.
