Access to information held by state institutions and other entities associated with public authority is one of the fundamental achievements of citizenship and democracy, enabling public participation and direct oversight of governmental operations. In Slovenia, the origins of this right can be traced back to 1991 with the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia. However, the effective implementation of this constitutionally guaranteed right was not realized until 2003, when the National Assembly adopted the Access to Public Information Act. The effective exercise of this right requires a clearly defined procedure, execution method, and guaranteed legal protection.
The thesis examined relevant regulations, annual reports, case law from the Information Commissioner, and pertinent literature to gain a detailed understanding of how the Act is applied in practice by the Information Commissioner and the courts. The findings indicate that the Act serves as a significant tool for ensuring transparency and accountability in the public sector. Despite a well-defined normative framework, certain discrepancies in its application are evident, particularly in cases where obligated entities fail to disclose required information or remain silent on submitted access requests. The greatest challenge for obligated entities lies in justifying exceptions, which are often interpreted too broadly and vaguely. These findings highlight clear opportunities for improvement in the area of access to public information and the handling of requests by obligated entities.
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