Local governments are often the first place where citizens seek information, making their openness in providing information very important, and it is something that must be continuously improved, as noted today, following a two-day training organized by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) on 25 and 26 September in Podgorica, for 18 representatives of local governments from the central region of Montenegro.
During the training, participants were thoroughly introduced to the legal framework regulating free access to information, with a focus on processing requests, deadlines, and drafting decision forms. They also addressed situations where a decision is not required, as well as requests submitted in the form of questions. Additionally, topics related to restrictions on access to information were discussed, along with the harm test and overriding public interest, as key elements to ensure a balance between the right to information and data protection. In the practical sessions, participants prepared decisions and documents in response to requests for free access to information, analysing specific examples from the practice of the Agency for Personal Data Protection (AZLP) and the Administrative Court.
“I learned a lot through practical examples presented by the lecturers, which will be of great help in our future work. The training was very well organized, and the lecturers, with their knowledge and expertise, managed to clarify all the doubts and uncertainties we had during the preparation of decisions. This training was also a great opportunity to network and exchange experiences, which will contribute to better results in developing professionalism and transparency in our work. I was particularly satisfied with the choice of lecturers, who have vast experience in this field and managed to convey it completely,” said Mirjana Lipovina, Head of the Department for Civil Status, Local Communities, and Non-Governmental Organizations in the Royal Capital Cetinje.
“This training, along with the experiences shared among participants, allowed us to acquire new knowledge and more effectively face daily challenges in applying this law. We also thank the lecturers who were open to all our questions and doubts and helped resolve them with their experience,” emphasized Vojislav Bošković, Senior Advisor in the Secretariat for Property, Investments, and Representation in the Municipality of Danilovgrad.
The training also focused on identifying specific obstacles in the implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information, sharing experiences, and improving methods and procedures for efficiently handling requests from various stakeholders
The training is part of the project Transparent Bodies – Informed Citizens which the CCE is implementing with the financial support of the Ministry of Public Administration.
Itana Gogić, Project Assistant