EUROPEAN EXPERIENCES AND INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION IN ADVANCING THE RIGHT TO FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION (PART ONE)

From 5 to 9 October 2026, a delegation of the Agency for the Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information, led by Director Petar Gajdov, conducted a study visit to the Federal Republic of Germany within the framework of the EU-funded Twinning Light project “Supporting Free Access to Information”, in cooperation with the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ).

The study visit to Erfurt and Berlin focused on the exchange of institutional experiences, the examination of European practices, and capacity building to ensure the consistent and effective exercise of the right to free access to public information.

The programme included working meetings with the relevant German institutions at state and federal levels, a visit to the Thuringian State Parliament, and professional exchanges with representatives of civil society.

Discussions focused on the legal and institutional mechanisms for ensuring access to information, the supervisory and advisory responsibilities of independent institutions, the efficiency of administrative procedures, and methodologies for monitoring and assessing institutional transparency.

Particular emphasis was placed on a comparative examination of German and Macedonian legislative frameworks and institutional practices, with a view to identifying applicable models for improving the handling of information requests, strengthening institutional accountability, and enhancing mechanisms for safeguarding citizens’ right to be informed.

The study visit made a significant contribution to professional development, the deepening of bilateral institutional cooperation, and the further strengthening of the Agency’s capacities, in line with European principles of transparency, accountability, and good governance.

The effective exercise of the right to information is an essential prerequisite for institutional responsibility, democratic oversight, and strengthening public trust in institutions.