Fees for Providing Information in the Age of Digitalization

Kód výsledku v 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>

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Fees for Providing Information in the Age of Digitalization

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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 &amp; 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&apos;s and Constitutional Court&apos;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rather insignificant and posits that the principle of effectiveness, which initially justified these charges, has been superseded in the digital age.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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Fees for Providing Information in the Age of Digitalization

Popis výsledku anglicky

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 &amp; 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&apos;s and Constitutional Court&apos;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.

Druh

J_imp - Článek v periodiku v databázi Web of Science

CEP obor

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OECD FORD obor

50500 - Law

Projekt

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Návaznosti

S - Specificky vyzkum na vysokych skolach

Rok uplatnění

2024

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy

ISSN

1337-9038

e-ISSN

1338-4309

Svazek periodika

17

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

2

Stát vydavatele periodika

DE - Spolková republika Německo

Počet stran výsledku

22

Strana od-do

5-26

Kód UT WoS článku

001375676400005

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

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