Right of access to information

The right of access to information and the re-use of information are exercised pursuant to the Act on the Right of Access to Information (Zakon o pravu na pristup informacijama) (Official Gazette no. 25/2013 and 85/15).

The aim of the Act is to enable and ensure the exercise of the right of access to information guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia, and the re-use of information by physical and legal persons, through the openness and public nature of the work of public authorities.

The right of access to information is founded on the principles of public and free access, timely, complete and accurate information, the principle of equality, the principle of the availability of information and, pursuant to Article 5, paragraph 1, point 5 of the Act, this right “entails the right of a user to request and receive the information, as well as the obligation of the public authorities to provide access to the information requested, that is, to publish the information even when no particular request has been made, when publication stems from their obligation prescribed by law or some other general regulation”.

Information, within the meaning of this Act (Article 5, paragraph 1, point 3) is “any data possessed by a public authority, in the form of a document, record, dossier, register or any other form, regardless of how it is presented (written, drawn, printed, recorded, magnetic, optical, electronic or any other record)”.

The re-use of information, pursuant to Article 5, paragraph 1, point 6 of the Act “means the use of information from a public authority by a physical or legal person, for commercial or non-commercial purposes, different from the original purpose, within the framework of the public work for which that information was created. The exchange of information between public authorities for the purpose of performing work within their competence shall not be deemed to be re-use”.

The right of access to information and re-use of information may be exercised by submitting an application to the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia, to the Information Officer of the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia:

By writing to:
Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia
Pantovčak 241
10 000 Zagreb

By e-mail:
glasnogovornik@predsjednik.hr

By sending a fax to:
01/ 4565 256

By telephone:
01/4565 135

The Information Officer of the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia is: Suzana Rebselj

Decision on the appointment of a special officer responsible for fulfilling the exercise of the right of access to information

Requests for access to information must include the following:

• Name and address of the public authority to which the request is being sent;
• Data that is important for identifying the requested information;
• Given name, surname and address of the natural person submitting the request;
• Name of company, i.e. legal person and address.

The person submitting the request is not obliged to state the reasons for requesting access to the information. The applicant may also propose in the request the way in which the public authority could make the information available.

The person submitting the request for access to information shall be provided the information in one of the following ways:

• Directly;
• In writing;
• By insight into documents and copies of documents containing the requested information being given;
• By copies of documents containing the requested information being provided;
• In some other fashion, which is appropriate for exercising the right of access to information.

In the request for access to information, the applicant can indicate the most suitable way for obtaining the information. If the applicant does not indicate this, the information will be provided in the way in which the request was submitted, i.e. in the most efficient way.

The Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia has the right to receive reimbursement for actual material costs of providing information to persons exercising their right of access to information, and of the reuse of information, as well as reimbursement for information provision costs.

The reimbursement amount for costs of receiving access to information and of the reuse of information shall be determined in accordance with the criteria stipulated in Article 19, Paragraph 3 of the Act on the Right of Access to Information.

Documents

Act on the Right of Access to Information (Official Gazette no. 25/13)

Law on Amendments to the Act on the Right of Access to Information (Official Gazette no. 85/15.)

Requests

Criteria for determining the amount of reimbursement for actual material costs and information provision costs (Official Gazette no. 12/14.)

Amendment to the Criteria for determining the amount of reimbursement for actual material costs and information provision costs (Official Gazette no. 15/14.)

Annual reports on the implementation of the Act on the Right of Access to Information: