Access to all public documents for citizens and answers to the questions they pose to government agencies within 20 days provides for a regulation promoted by the Ministry of the Interior.

As stated by Dailythe arrangement is in compliance with the Tromso Convention which is already applied by most European countries.

It also includes exceptions regarding the safeguarding of confidentiality for matters of national defense, foreign policy, state security and public order, as well as medical, commercial, professional and banking confidentiality, while there is provision for the protection of personal data.

What is the Tromsø Convention?

The Tromsø Convention is the first binding international legal instrument to recognize the right of everyone to access official documents held by public authorities without discrimination and regardless of the applicant’s status or motivation in seeking access.

All official documents are in principle public and may be withheld subject to the protection of other rights and legal interests specifically mentioned in the Convention, unless there is an overriding public interest in disclosure.

The Tromsø Convention sets minimum standards for the prompt and fair processing of requests for access to official documents by the public authorities holding the documents, as well as for internal administrative reviews and appeals to independent bodies or courts in the event of denial of requests.