In the framework of the continuous support to the beneficiary institutions in Serbia to progress towards their reform agendas in the field of freedom of expression and access to information, in line with the European standards, fifteen professionals of the staff of Commissioner’s Office working on access to information related matters, successfully completed the training on the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case-law and Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents (CETS No. 205, Tromsø Convention).

The Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection in Serbia, is an independent state body, with the competence to protect the exercise of the right to free access to information of public importance, in accordance with domestic law.

In an era where information plays a crucial role in democratic societies, ensuring access to information becomes increasingly important. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) guarantees the right to freedom of expression and information under certain conditions, and its interpretation and application has been gradually shaped by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) case-law to include a right to access information that contribute to public debates. In this context, the Commissioner’s staff had the opportunity to enhance their knowledge on the topic, through analysis of most recent ECtHR judgements, as well as of the Tromsø Convention, the first international agreement designed to improve access to official documents. The discussions provided an overview of minimum standards, in addition to monitoring and reporting mechanism, established under the Convention.

The action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media (PROFREX) in Serbia” is part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”. It aims at contributing to an improved environment for the exercise, in particular by journalists and media actors, of their rights of freedom of expression, in a more pluralistic and safer media environment, in line with the standards as set by in accordance with Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights.