WORKSHOP HELD IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE (NDI)

The Agency for the Protection of the Right to Free Access to Public Information in cooperation with the National Democratic Institute (NDI), which implements the “Communities with Integrity” Project, supported by the Governments of Switzerland and Sweden, organized a workshop dedicated to improving the application of the Law on Free Access to Public Information. The goal of the project is to establish and institutionalize robust systems and practices for integrity that minimize the risks of corruption and enhance citizen trust.

The purpose of the workshop was to improve the understanding of the Law on Free Access to Public Information and to develop practical skills for its application in municipalities, with a focus on the principles of transparency and accountability. Participants were introduced to mechanisms for handling requests, appeals, exceptions, and proactive transparency practices.

Officials and heads of the municipalities: Bitola, Bogovinje, Gazi Baba, Kumanovo, Strumica and Shtip, who are part of the project, with interaction and active participation through practical examples from everyday work concerning free access to public information, improved their knowledge of national legislation and international standards, the rules for dealing with requests and appeals, as well as for the preparation of tests for harmfulness and improving the proactive transparency of institutions. They emphasized that access to information is a key tool for increasing transparency, encouraging cooperation, and active involvement of citizens in local processes.

This workshop represents an important step towards building an open government that guarantees integrity, accountability, and reduces corruption in municipalities.