Suche
Mein Konto
Strengthen civil rights: New law on freedom of information in Feldkirchen!
Feldkirchen welcomes the Freedom of Information Act: more transparency and civil rights since September 1, 2023. Find out more!
Strengthen civil rights: New law on freedom of information in Feldkirchen!
On September 1, 2023, the new Freedom of Information Act (IFG) came into force, replacing the old official secrecy. This begins a new era of transparency for citizens in Austria. According to meinkreis.at, the federal, state and local governments have since had to respond to inquiries within four weeks. It is a significant step because the rule is now: information is the norm, secrecy is the exception.
The municipality of Feldkirchen has recognized this and is actively committed to a functioning implementation of the IFG. Mayor Martin Treffner (ÖVP) emphasizes the importance of transparency, pointing out necessary adjustments to the IT system and legal support. A certain amount of administrative effort is to be expected, but he still sees the introduction as a positive step towards being closer to the citizens.
The innovations in detail
A key aspect of the IFG is the proactive publication requirement. Administrative bodies must not only provide information of general interest upon request, but also publish it independently and free of charge on the Internet. These include, for example, activity reports, reports or official gazettes, as oesterreich.gv.at explains. This transparency is ensured via the information register at data.gv.at and on official websites.
What is particularly interesting is that municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants, such as St. Urban, are exempt from the proactive publication requirement, but are still obliged to answer any inquiries that arise. However, Mayor Dietmar Rauter (FPÖ) expresses concerns that data protection and business secrets could often come into conflict with this new regulation. Here, Steuerberg Mayor Werner Egger (SPÖ) suggests forming collaborations between the municipalities in order to overcome legal challenges together.
Rights and obligations in the new system
According to the IFG, every citizen has the constitutionally granted right of access to information held by bodies required to provide information. Requests can be made in writing, verbally or by telephone, whereby the identity of the applicant must be credibly verified. The administration is obliged to respond within four weeks. In complicated cases, this deadline can be extended by a further four weeks, which should not contradict the principle of transparency, as bundeskanzleramt.gv.at emphasizes.
Despite the far-reaching innovations, there are also limits. Information may be refused if the request is abusive or has a significant impact on the work of the institution. Data protection laws protect citizens' personal data and are therefore also an important part of the new information system.
Overall, the new Freedom of Information Act is a significant step towards a more open and citizen-oriented administration. Whether and how well the system works in practice remains to be seen, but the fundamental course has now been set with a clear commitment to transparency.