Executive and legislative bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina should be transparent and open, granting public access to information. However, in practice, this is far from the case. The Law on Freedom of Access to Information, passed last year by the national government, has been criticized for being a step backward, rather than forward, in ensuring transparency. Experts told N1 that, despite being presented as a European-standard law, it actually hinders access to crucial information.

For journalists, and ultimately the public, accurate information from the government is essential. A recent case involving the procurement of new official vehicles for federal officials sparked significant public interest, but N1 never received the requested information from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina government. Transparency International BiH cited an example of a signed agreement with the Federation's government that remains mostly unfulfilled.

“We submitted an initiative to all governments and parliaments in BiH to publish working materials so citizens can know what will be discussed. Some, like the FBiH government, committed in writing to do this. However, they sometimes follow through, but often do not, and we have to remind them of their written promises,” said Edo Kanlic from Transparency International BiH.

Hasan Kamenjakovic from the Center for Civic Initiatives explained the challenges of obtaining relevant data. “It’s rare to get the requested information, especially when it comes to sensitive issues or projects that haven't been completed. You often get information years later, when it’s no longer relevant,” he noted.

Elma Karisik, from the project “Nemam štelu,” which monitors employment in public institutions, expressed her disappointment with the lack of transparency. “If you ask general questions, you get a response. But if you inquire about corruption or public sector employment, the answers are limited and often conceal much of the truth,” she said.

Research on government transparency in the region shows that the level of openness varies significantly. According to a regional report, the Council of Ministers of BiH achieved 74.93% of the indicators for transparency, while the government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina met only 37.77% of the criteria.

Borka Rudic, General Secretary of the Association of BH Journalists, pointed out that public institutions are not proactive in publishing information. “Public institutions still don’t understand that public information belongs to the people and not to them,” she said, emphasizing that the new law has raised barriers to accessing public information instead of facilitating it.

In conclusion, the current situation with the new Law on Freedom of Access to Information has caused widespread concern. Instead of improving access, it has created more obstacles, undermining the public's trust in government institutions.