Source: Blic

Lately we have been witnessing a number of actions of security structures in our country in the fight against corruption and organized crime. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Information Agency, the Military Security Agency and public prosecutor's offices also organized and implemented some actions which justify the epithet of spectacular because of the number of potential criminal offenders and probable damage they caused to the state and society. Of course, the vast majority of citizens welcome these activities because they are vitally interested in every serious result in this fight against corruption and organized crime. This is why it is logical and commendable that the said actions were given good media coverage.

Source: Danas

European Commission's expert mission visits Commissioner for Information of Public Importance

EC experts aware of the gap between what happens in practice and what is written in laws

Belgrade - I told the European Commission's expert delegation that I expected an unbiased report on Serbia's compliance with the requirements for joining the visa waiver regime with the EU, the so-called Schengen "white list"; I also said I expected the report to contain certain recommendations, even imperative ones if necessary, to support the adoption of a political decision on this issue in the European Union. I explained that many Serbian citizens are interested in European integration and visa liberalization and reminded that any sign of progress in this regard would also be conductive to the fight against corruption - Commissioner for Information of Public Importance Rodoljub Sabic said after the talks with EC experts yesterday. Commissioner reported that the two parties concluded it was imperative to increase the transparency of Serbia's public authorities to foster reforms.

Source: Politika

After four years of application, change of the Law on Free Access to Information is necessary. - How shall secret information be regulated „The Commissioner doesn't have legal or factual possibilities to secure the execution of his decision himself.  The Law stipulates that his order is mandatory, but what in case when someone says: 'I really don't care what's written in the law?' Unfortunately, we still aren't a country that has secured an enviable level of legal discipline and that is our reality", said Rodoljub Sabic,  the Commissioner for Public Information and Protection of Personal Data, on yesterday's forum on the  laws regulating treatment of public, classified and information pertaining to person.

Source: Blic

Guest Commentator is Rodoljub Sabic, Commissioner for Information

Recently I have in this very place written about an e-mail that has been sent to me by N.N. physician, and which contained amongst else: „I found out by chance that some protocols of the Urgent Medical Service in ... are lacking. I was told that even two years ago, many protocols have been moved to Ministry of Internal Affairs... for some investigation. Each of those protocols contains complete data of thousands of our patients - from names and addresses to Personal Identification Number, to complete set of medical data, diagnosis and therapy. I have been informed that there was no court order, but the inspectors from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and their lawyer have requested to be issued those protocols.  This and similar cases that are probably happening in our country on a mass basis, create a feeling of complete lack of protection of the citizens, of pervasive power and arrogance of the police, as well as of return of this society into times that should have been left far behind ourselves".

Source: Politika

Behind the scenes

Ivana Anojcic

In Serbia salary of a manager or of a public company president is a secret. That is completely sufficient reason to change the Law on Free Access to Information and the Information Classification Act.  But, those laws have difficulty in reaching MPs of the Serbian Assembly.

Source: Blic

Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, Rodoljub Sabic, evaluated yesterday that lateness in application of the Law on Data Protection might have harmful consequences on achieving priority foreign policy goals of Serbia.