On the occasion of International Right to Information Day, Transparency International in Bosnia and Herzegovina (TI BiH) and the association "Vaša prava BiH," supported by the EU Delegation in BiH, organized a conference titled "Challenges of Accessing Public Information in BiH: From Law Adoption to Implementation."

The conference presented an analysis of the current practices of implementing the Freedom of Information Law by public institutions, highlighting key challenges and inefficiencies. Aurelie Valtat, Head of the EU Delegation's Department for European Integration, emphasized that access to information is crucial for a functioning democracy. “Citizens must be informed to make decisions about their authorities, and there is no excuse in the digital age for denying access to information,” Valtat said.

The 2023 Freedom of Information Law allowed for electronic access through a central portal, but Valtat expressed disappointment that the July 2024 deadline for launching the portal was missed. She also called for the establishment of an independent oversight body and the alignment of the law with entity and Brcko District levels.

Ena Kljajic-Grgic, Head of the TI Legal Aid Center, noted that while institutions adhere to the 15-day response deadline, there is an increasing trend of rejecting information requests. TI BiH has filed three lawsuits related to information access, which are still pending.

The conference gathered representatives from all levels of government, international organizations, civil society, and the media.