PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC – OCTOBER 23, 2024
The CEELI Institute is proud to announce the official release of its new report, Shining the Light on Corruption: Freedom of Information and Transparency in Central and Eastern Europe. The report, officially launched during a roundtable on October 20-21 at the CEELI Institute in Prague, addresses the critical role of Freedom of Information (FOI) in promoting government transparency and combating corruption in the region.
This comprehensive resource, authored by David Banisar, a leading human rights lawyer and Visiting Senior Fellow at the London School of Economics, is the result of years of collaboration between the CEELI Institute and civil society organizations across Central and Eastern Europe. It explores the implementation and erosion of FOI laws, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides practical recommendations for governments and civil society on how to better leverage FOI to foster accountability and transparency in the public sector.
The report discusses key areas where FOI can serve as a powerful anti-corruption tool, including:
Enhancing transparency in public procurement
Oversight of FOI laws and their enforcement
Access to judiciary information
Monitoring of appointments in critical sectors like healthcare
Key Findings & Recommendations: The report provides an in-depth analysis of the current state of FOI national laws in Central and Eastern Europe, highlighting both the successes and the challenges faced in their implementation. Among its many recommendations, it calls on governments to harmonize national legislation with international standards, ensure that data protection laws do not undermine transparency, and strengthen enforcement mechanisms for FOI requests.
For civil society, the report emphasizes the importance of working closely with public officials, the judiciary, and other relevant stakeholders to raise awareness of FOI’s role in fighting corruption. It also encourages civil society organizations to build stronger networks and share expertise on how to effectively use FOI laws in their advocacy efforts.
About the Report Launch Event: The two-day roundtable event accompanying the report’s release brought together experts from across the region to discuss the state of FOI in the fight against corruption. Panel discussions, led by David Banisar, focused on transparency challenges, privacy concerns, the role of the judiciary in FOI oversight, and the critical work carried out by civil society to promote sound FOI policies and transparency in the public sector. Attendees had the opportunity to engage in in-depth discussions on the report’s findings and to explore practical solutions to pressing issues in FOI implementation. As pointed out by Sandor Lederer from K-Monitor, Hungary, lack of transparency and integrity in the healthcare sector can have a detrimental effect on equal access to care, including in emergency situations, underlining the critical need to use FOI as a tool to hold public institutions accountable.
CEELI Institute Executive Director Robert Strang remarked at the event, “Effective FOI frameworks not only combat corruption but also rebuild public trust, particularly in sectors like healthcare where transparency is vital. We are at a crucial juncture in the fight for transparency and integrity in public governance. This report provides a roadmap for those who seek to restore FOI protections and enhance the public’s right to know.”
