On 19th of February, the Council of Europe has organised a tailored workshop for all the staff of the National Centre for Personal Data Protection of the Republic of Moldova addressing the implementation of the newly adopted Law on Access to Information of Public Interest, aligned to the Council of Europe standards on access to information.

The new Law on Access to Information of Public Interest has entered into force on 8th of January 2024, and it has introduced numerous changes to the ways in which the public is able to access information managed by public institutions, in alignment with European standards, particularly in aspects such as proactive transparency requirements, deadline and communication regulations, judicial review models and financial sanctions.            

In view of the important balance between access to information and the protection of personal data, civil servants were guided by experts and national lawmakers on the legal nuances needed to ensure a faithful interpretation and application of the new law on access to information reconciling with the existing law covering the protection of personal data.

The Council of Europe is a committed partner of the Government of Moldova in strengthening the implementation efforts of the new law on access to information, with activities ranging from workshops for public servants and judges, e-learning courses, and publications.

The activity was organised by the Council of Europe Project “Support for Media Pluralism and Freedom of Expression in the Republic of Moldova”.