ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN THE CONTEXT OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION THROUGH A EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE: REGIONAL STUDY VISIT IN STRASBOURG

Upon invitation from the Programme Office of the Council of Europe in Skopje, and organized by PROFREX, the Director of the Agency for Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information, Petar Gajdov, together with legal advisor and long-standing practitioner in the field of access to information law, Cvetan Stanoeski, participated in the two-day study visit “Western Balkan Regional Exchange on Access to Information in the Context of Freedom of Expression”, held on 2–3 June 2026 in Strasbourg, France.

The event was organized within the framework of the regional initiative “Protecting Freedom of Expression and the Media in the Western Balkans”, as part of the joint programme framework of the European Union and the Council of Europe aimed at supporting democratic processes, the rule of law, and strengthening institutional resilience across the region.

The study visit represented an important opportunity for interinstitutional exchange of knowledge, experiences, and established practices among institutions responsible for ensuring and safeguarding the right of access to information across the Western Balkans. The working sessions focused on European legal standards in the field of access to information, the implementation of the Tromsø Convention, the role of oversight mechanisms and legal remedies, as well as emerging challenges arising from digital transformation, data processing, algorithmic systems, and artificial intelligence.

During the visit, meetings and expert discussions were held with representatives of the bodies responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Tromsø Convention, experts from the Council of Europe, members of the Access Info Group, and representatives of the European Court of Human Rights. Discussions addressed current judicial practices, challenges in implementing the right of access to information, and opportunities for further strengthening institutional mechanisms.

Participation in such processes of exchange, professional networking, and mutual learning represents an important prerequisite for developing modern, accountable, and transparent institutions founded on the principles of openness, legal certainty, and protection of the public interest.

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