Activity Details (ID# 4975)

Activity Synopsis

The main objective of the seminar was to present and analyse the first Croatian draft law on access to information. The seminar also served as a discussion forum to raise awareness about the need to introduce such legislation in Croatia. Through this activity, the drafters were also seeking support for the prompt adoption of this piece of legislation by the Croatian Government. 

The seminar was well organised, well attended and the professional interpretation enabled a high level discussion. Recommendation (2002) 2 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on access to official documents was distributed to the participants, as well as the draft Law and other related documents.

After a general presentation of the draft by local experts, this document was analysed and discussed by the CoE expert. Although some shortcomings were pointed out, the draft was generally considered as a good basis for the future Croatian legislation in this field. The discussions enabled the Government representatives to welcome this civil society initiative. They furthermore showed the Government’s support towards the adoption of this law.

The media covered the seminar very widely. All the main newspapers published an article on the activity and the Croatian public television included an item during the main evening news.

No assessment questionnaire was distributed at the end of the seminar, however this activity was very well perceived by the participants. All the objectives of this activity were reached.

The programme was slightly changed and adapted to the pace of discussions.

 

No declaration was adopted at the end of the seminar. The day after the activity, the drafters took advantage of the presence of the CoE expert in order to review some questions which arose during the activity. The initial presence of the comments by the CoE expert will be taken into account by the drafters when finalising this draft, before sending it to the Ministry of Justice, which will present it to the Government for adoption.

A formal legislative expertise could be organised upon the request of the Croatian authorities.
 

Minister of Culture, Deputy-Ministers for European Integration, Deputy-Minister of Justice, Parliamentarians, NGO representatives, local experts 

Ms Tonje Meinich, Legal Adviser, Ministry of Justice, Olso, Norway

 

Mr Mario Oetheimer, Media Division, DGII