President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova met today with representatives from the Center for Change Management (CCM), led by Executive Director Neda Maleska-Sacmaroska.
The CCM representatives first outlined the rationale and objectives of their initiative to provide free access to the electronic editions of laws and other regulations published in the “Official Gazette” for all interested parties, driven by the conviction that only an informed citizen can be a critical and active participant in society.
The Director then informed the President that, following thorough research, the Center prepared 2 documents analyzing the legal and financial aspects of open access to the online edition of the Gazette.
She noted that the documents offer, among other things, comparative data on the experiences of various European countries, clearly demonstrating the benefits of making their official gazettes accessible.
The President welcomed the idea of unhindered access to current electronic editions, viewing it as a democratic, logical and beneficial step toward fostering an equitable, informed and active citizenry. In her opinion, access to the “Official Gazette” is not merely a technical matter but an issue of significance for democracy and the rule of law.
Given that our Constitution – like many others – guarantees free access to information (specifically, the free receipt and dissemination of information), the interlocutors agreed that establishing free access to current issues of the “Official Gazette” would certainly have positive implications for the transparency of the decision-making process, institutional and personal accountability, as well as legal certainty for citizens.
In this regard, Siljanovska-Davkova assessed such initiatives as a significant step and a contribution to the advancement of public policies, particularly when supported by legal and financial analysis as well as concrete recommendations.
She believes that the project’s legal, institutional, financial and technical aspects should be examined through a broad debate as the process moves forward, in pursuit of a sound, feasible, sustainable and long-term solution.
