Ten Times Higher Fines for the Infringement of the Legislation on Access to Information

On Thursday, 17^th of November, the Parliament adopted in the second reading the draft law on amending Article 71 of the Code of Contraventions, what entails higher fines for the infringement of the legislation on access to information. The draft was developed by the experts of the Independent Journalism Centre (IJC).
 
In accordance with the proposed amendments, the infringement of the legislation on access to information or on the complaints shall be penalized with a fine of 100 to150 conventional units (from 5.000 to 7.500 Lei) for individuals and from 300 to 400 conventional units (from 15.000 to 20.000 Lei) – for officials. At the same time, the submission by an official of a response containing erroneous data shall entail a fine from 400 to 500 conventional units (from 20.000 to 25.000 Lei).

The proposals related to the draft law on amending and supplementing Law no. 982-XIV of 11.05.2000 on access to information were developed by IJC experts within an advocacy campaign to change the Law on access to information.

Within three months after the publication of the law in the Official Gazette, the Government will have to develop the required regulatory acts for the enforcement of the Code and to republish the Code of Contraventions will all the amendments.

The campaign “A better law for journalists, a more informed citizen" is implemented thanks to the generous support of the American people provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The expressed opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or of the USA Government.