The Council of Europe’s Access Info Group (AIG), has published its first baseline evaluation reports on Albania and Armenia.

The reports contain comprehensive analysis of the compatibility of Albania’s Law on the Right to Information and of
Armenia´s Law on Freedom of Information.

In its report on Albania, the AIG finds that the Law on the Right to Information largely aligns with the principles and obligations of the convention. Most of the law’s limitations on the right of access to official documents comply with the treaty’s permissible grounds for restricting this right. However, the AIG recommends that Albania reconsiders the limitation on grounds of based on protecting professional secrecy.

In its report on Armenia, the AIG considers that while the Law on Freedom of Information covers a broad range of public authorities, it should make clear that all entities exercising administrative authority and all information that is held by public authorities fall within its scope of application. The AIG issues a number of recommendations to the country to ensure compliance with the treaty.