The mass media community proposes amending the law on access to information and the freedom of information law as some of the provisions of these laws are outdated. The main goal of the proposed amendment bill is to introduce the phrases “information of public interest” and “personal data of public interest”. Hearings on the issue were held by the expert parliamentary commission on June 29, IPN reports.

According to Petru Macovei, executive director of the Association of Independent Press, the bill contains amendments to ten legal acts from different fields. It was transmitted to Parliament by media NGOs and by the Association for the Protection of Private Life, with the request to register and examine it according to the ordinary legislative procedure.

Svetlana Rusu, of the Ombudsman’s Office, stated that the Office supports the bill and indicated the existing problems related to written requests for information of public interest. An electronic signature is requested from the mass media in case of a request for information, making reference to the law on petitioning, while the law on access to information does not contain clear provisions on the denial of access to information, making reference to the law on petitioning. Clarity is thus needed.

Association of Independent Press president Eugeniu Rybka said the law on access to information should be amended so as to shorten the periods during which responses should be provided to the requests of the press. The bill is necessary and should be adopted as swiftly as possible.

Vasile Năstase, who heads the parliamentary sub-commission responsible for the media, noted the law on access to information played an essential role in developing democracy. When the amendments are systematized, they will be submitted to the expert commission for approval.

Adrian Lebedinski, chairman of the Commission on Culture, Education, Research, Youth, Sport and the Media, said the amendment of the law on access to information was included in the Government’s plan for 2021. On July 8, the commission will examine the assessment report on the law on access to information and will agree the version that will be presented to Parliament.