Romania

[RO] Information Law Extended

IRIS 2002-4:1/34

Mariana Stoican

Journalist, Bucharest

On 8 March, the "Decision on the approval of methodologies for the application of Act No. 544/2001 on free access to information of public interest" was published.

Under the provisions of this Act, which was only passed last year, public institutions must communicate information of public interest to the press within 24 hours. Accreditations must be issued within 48 hours of applications being submitted. Ministries and local public administrative bodies are obliged to set up their own press offices. Premises must be set aside for this purpose within 30 days of the rules being published. The necessary staff must be recruited and trained within 60 days. The Ministry of Public Information will create ten regional offices, which will offer advice on the establishment of local structures and monitor how the Act is enforced. By the end of the year, evaluation reports will be drawn up and, where necessary, current rules will be improved.