NGO Compensates for Administrative and
Regulatory Deficiencies (AIP Experience in
Bulgaria)
Gergana Jouleva, PhD,
Executive director,
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Challenges in period of political
and constitutional changes 1989-
1997
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Access to environmental information
Access to documents of former security
services
Citizenry lacks means of controlling the
government – public trust towards
government
Culture of secrecy
New media legislation – Public (government
controlled media), commercial media
Frequent political changes
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Results in campaign for adoption
of Access to Public Information Act
APIA
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Adoption of APIA in 2000
Adoption of DP and PCI legislation (2002)
Public discussions on the draft legislation
Elucidation of the APIR
Development of country network
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
New Challenges in the beginning of
the implementation (2000)
Common
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Administration was not prepared to fulfill its
obligations
Necessity for further elucidation of the law
Specific
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No oversight and enforcement body
Unclearly outlined exemptions from the right to
information access
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Advocacy for the implementation of
APIA (Bulgaria)
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TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO EXERSIZE THEIR
RIGTHS UNDER APIA
Handbook How to Use APIA
Handbook for Journalists
Trainings for journalists, NGOs
Legal help and advice including
court representation
Elucidation of the Access to Information Rights
through media and other public events
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Advocacy for the implementation
of APIA
TO PUSH GOVERNEMENT BODIES TO APPLY
THEIR OBLIGATIONS UNDER APIA
 Monitoring the implementation – Surveys,
Annual reports
 Monitoring the secondary legislation – Annual
reports with recommendations
 Handbook for the administration
 Trainings for the administration
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Access to information awareness in Bulgaria
Annual data (in percentages)
6
2006
10,1
8,8
2005
8
2004
15,5
11,8
0
10
22,6
Aware of the
procedure
13
12,6
2002
Exercised access to
information rights
28,2
19,2
20
26,9
30
Aware of access to
information rights
Source: National Center
for Public Opinion Polls
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
International Right to Know Day
September 28
www.righttoknowday.net
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
www.RightToKnowDay.net
International
Right to Know
Day
September 28
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
http://www.foiadvocates.net
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
New Challenges
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BG Legislation and EU Directives
E-APIA
Transparency of Government contracts
Transparency of the reports of the
implementation of these contracts
Necessity of further elucidation of the right
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
THANK YOU!
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Handbook for citizens
Access to Information Programme
Handbook
for
journalists
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Annual reports (2000-2005)
Access to Information Programme
Handbook for
administration
2005
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Access to Information Programme
WWW.AIP-BG.ORG
Freedom of Information Litigation in
Bulgaria. Selected cases.