FAI Law: Round table will be organized when pandemic stabilizes

PODGORICA, 15.04.2020. – A round-table or similar open-ended event will be organized when the epidemiological situation stabilizes, the Ministry of Public Administration (MPA) announced yesterday about the public debate on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Free Access to Information.

Earlier, numerous NGOs and journalists, as well as international organizations dealing with the transparency of public administration, appealed to the ministry and the Government not to hold a public hearing during the Covid 19 epidemic.

The MPA also reminds that in the current version of the Draft Law, which according to the European Commission can be submitted to the Government, and in relation to the first Draft Law which was at the public hearing, numerous proposals of NGOs and the EC were adopted.

“Thus, two key suggestions were considered and accepted, and the introduction of an abusive institution and amendment of the rules on costs in the administrative procedure and administrative dispute were rejected and each party would bear its own costs, regardless of success. I believe we once again affirm the commitment of the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Public Administration for co-operation and dialogue with NGOs and the media, especially in the context of enhancing transparency of public policies”, concluded the MPA.