Postponing the debate on the Law on Free Access to Information in the era of the epidemic was the only decision that is in the public interest, the Network for the Affirmation of the Non-Governmental Sector (MANS) announced.
"We are satisfied that the pressure of the domestic and international public brought a concrete result, and that the Ministry of Public Administration (MJU) still recognized the importance of the Law on Free Access to Information (FIA) and postponed the public debate until after the corona virus epidemic. Montenegro is facing perhaps the biggest challenge in its modern history, so it is necessary for every part of the state apparatus to show that it recognizes and accepts responsibility for its decisions. That is why we appealed to the Ministry of Justice to understand the seriousness of the situation we all find ourselves in and requested that the public the discussion on the amendments to this law is postponed until all the necessary conditions are met to organize a public discussion on this important issue that it deserves," according to MANS.
Postponing the public hearing is, however, only the first step towards what should be a responsible attitude towards the reform of state administration when it comes to its transparency, according to MANS.
"In this sense, we expect the Ministry of Justice to continue working on the improvement of the Law on SPI with all interested parties so that at the end of that process they will have a legal regulation that protects the public interest, and does not serve as a cover for the satisfaction of private and political ones. In a year when, apart from us, the next parliamentary elections are also expected to remediate the consequences of the epidemic, Montenegro needs a Law on Free Access to Information which is devoid of any scope for abuse and which will ensure that citizens fully enjoy their right guaranteed by the Constitution to know how their money is spent", announced is from MANS.
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