Significant Outcomes in Promoting Free Access to Information and Open Data
Public Administration Minister Maraš Dukaj, Photo: Bojana Cupic/Government of Montenegro
The Ministry of Public Administration (MPA) has achieved significant milestones in promoting free access to information and open data, as recognized in the Reform Agenda, according to their announcement.
The MPA highlighted that these achievements underscore Montenegro’s dedication to enhancing the transparency and accountability of its public administration.
They noted that a substantial advancement was the preparation of the Draft Law on Free Access to Information at the end of last year, which significantly enhances current mechanisms and introduces new provisions in line with the European Union Directive (EU) 2019/1024 on open data and the reuse of public sector information.
“The Government approved the Bill on January 23 of this year, and it has already received backing from relevant parliamentary committees, paving the way for its swift adoption,” the MPA stated.
According to the MPA, this law facilitates a more effective exercise of citizens’ rights to access information, promotes the reuse of valuable datasets—including geospatial, meteorological, statistical, and other data—and strengthens the overall functioning of public administration.
The statement also pointed out that the MPA launched a new Open Data Portal at the end of last year, available at https://data.gov.me, as part of the project “eServices and digital infrastructure as a response to COVID-19”.
It is mentioned that the portal complies with European standards and was integrated with the European Open Data Portal at the start of this year.
Moreover, to enhance institutional capacities, the MPA organized training on open data management for 33 representatives of administrative bodies, ensuring a balanced representation of genders, thereby further underscoring the inclusiveness of the initiative.
“By enacting the new law and modernizing the Open Data Portal, Montenegro clearly illustrates its commitment to building a more efficient, transparent, and open public administration that serves the citizens in accordance with European standards,” the statement concluded.
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