Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents

The Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents, usually known as the Tromsø Convention, was signed on 18 June 2009 in the Norwegian city of Tromsø. It entered into force on 1 December 2020 after it had been ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on 20 May 2020.^[1][2] 13 states have ratified the Convention and 7 additional states have signed it.^[3] In addition to Ukraine, it is obligatory for Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Moldova, Croatia, Montenegro, Hungary, Lithuania, Iceland, Armenia, Albania.

The Tromsø Convention is the first binding international legal instrument to recognize a general right of access to official documents held by public authorities. It is a multilateral agreement through which the opportunities for citizens to access public information are increased. It lays down a right of access to official documents. Limitations on this right are only permitted in order to protect certain interests like national security, defense or privacy.^[4][5][6]

See also

• Freedom of information legislation

References

1. "Ukraine passes Council of Europe instruments of ratification of convention on access to official documents". Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
2. "Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents enters into force". Agence Europe. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
3. "Chart of signatures and ratifications of Treaty 205". coe.int. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
4. Council of Europe. "The Council of Europe Convention on Access to Official Documents entered into force on 1 December".
5. Schram, Frankie (1 June 2011). The Aarhus Convention at Ten (1 ed.). Europa Law Publishing. p. 439. ISBN 9789089520487. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
6. "Council of Europe prepares for Entry into Force of the Tromsø Convention on Access to Official Documents". Access Info. Retrieved 6 December 2020.