PRESENTATION OF BIRN’S (BALKAN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING NETWORK) 5TH ANNUAL REPORT ON FREEDOM OF INFORMATION FOR 2023

On June 12, 2024, the 5th BIRN (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) Freedom of Information Report for 2023 was presented in Tirana, Albania. The report analyzes 715 requests for information submitted by BIRN journalists in six countries of the Western Balkans in 2023, including the Republic of North Macedonia, six interviews with representatives of the relevant authorities in each country, as well as interviews with 12 BIRN journalists by external experts.

The fact that, in 2023, BIRN Macedonia has had the best experience with data access using the right to free access to public information is noteworthy. Namely, out of 63 Requests for access to public information submitted, 54 were fully answered, 4 requests for access to public information were partially processed, 2 requests were rejected, and 3 requests were not processed by the institution ﹘ holders of information.

“Public institutions in the Western Balkans are less and less willing to respond to freedom of information, information requests, journalistic questions or to give interviews,” concludes the latest report based on the work of BIRN journalists during 2023, published on Wednesday in Tirana, Albania. “The practice of so-called ‘administrative silence’ ﹘ not acting upon requests for access to information ﹘ has become widespread,” the report claims.

You can find the report at the following link:

https://balkaninsight.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Freedom-of-Information-2023-Annual-Report.pdf