Fees for Providing Information in the Age of Digitalization
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216275%3A25410%2F24%3A39922271" target="_blank" >RIV/00216275:25410/24:39922271 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/nispa-2024-0011" target="_blank" >https://sciendo.com/article/10.2478/nispa-2024-0011</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/nispa-2024-0011" target="_blank" >10.2478/nispa-2024-0011</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Fees for Providing Information in the Age of Digitalization
Original language description
The article examines the principle of transparency as a cornerstone of the rule of law and a deterrent to power misuse. Effective and efficient means must be used to ensure access to government information. However, under EU and Czech law, persons legally bound to provide information are entitled to request reimbursements of their costs. Such fees may be requested in an amount specified by law, namely for excessive information search which usually form the most significant part of the fees charged. Contrarily, the Troms & oslash; Convention does not allow for reimbursement of extensive search. This article investigates whether these fees impede access to information. The Czech Supreme Administrative Court's and Constitutional Court's case law defining the conditions under which reimbursement of costs may be requested is analysed. Further, current administrative practice of ministries and regional authorities is compared, highlighting considerable disparities in their fee schedules. The article scrutinizes the amount of fees collected, which is rather insignificant and posits that the principle of effectiveness, which initially justified these charges, has been superseded in the digital age. The research, which has both national and EU-wide implications, concludes that it would be beneficial to abolish all fees. This recommendation also applies to other countries with a similar approach to information access. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for both the scientific community and practical applications in the field of law.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
50500 - Law
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach
Others
Publication year
2024
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy
ISSN
1337-9038
e-ISSN
1338-4309
Volume of the periodical
17
Issue of the periodical within the volume
2
Country of publishing house
DE - GERMANY
Number of pages
22
Pages from-to
5-26
UT code for WoS article
001375676400005
EID of the result in the Scopus database
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