30 November 2010, 14:05
The bill (Reg. No.7321) presents a new definition of the concept "information" in clause 200 of the Civil Code of Ukraine: "Information is any data and/or data that can be stored in tangible medium or is reflected in electronic version."
Furthermore, the document presents a new version of the applicable Law "On Information." Namely, it sets the legal basis for the protection of rights on information in all public spheres of life, and guarantees free creation, collection, access, storage, and use of information in a written, oral or other form. It also obliges the state authorities and local self-government bodies to provide access to the official information.
Pursuant to the bill, access to information on activity and decisions of the subjects of state authority shall be guaranteed in the following way: publication of information in mass media and official printed editions, information presented upon request; publication on the official web site on the Internet, information presented in the form of information services.
The access to the published information is supervised by the specialized bodies determined by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the President of Ukraine.
Pursuant to the document, the Verkhovna Rada can demand that information administrators present the reports on enquiries. The parliamentary supervision for the right on access to information is efected by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine committees, the People´s Deputies of Ukraine, and the Ombudsperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The bill regulates the activity of mass media and accreditation of the journalists.