Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic presented the Ombudsman’s 2013 Regular Annual Report to the Committee members, providing a general assessment of the status and quality of the exercise and protection of the citizens’ rights before state authorities, the situation in the state administration and the public sector as a whole, through a comprehensive presentation of the Ombudsman’s activities in the performance of its duties as stipulated by the Constitution and the law. He pointed out the necessary systemic changes to be achieved through building and strengthening institutions in order to promote the rule of law, respect of human and minority rights and exercise of civil rights.

By a majority vote, the Committee decided to submit the Report accompanied by a Decision Proposal on the reviewed Ombudsman’s 2013 Regular Annual Report to the National Assembly and propose that it be considered by urgent procedure.

The Committee went on to review the 2013 Report on the implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance and the Law on Personal Data Protection, presented to the Committee members by Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and the Law on Personal Data Protection Rodoljub Sabic. Sabic outlined the situation in the field of free access to information of public importance and personal data protection deeming that the key to future progress in exercising this civil right is to change the routinely slow and passive attitude of the relevant authorities and those authorised to process the citizens’ requests.

By a majority vote, the Committee decided to submit the Report accompanied by a Decision Proposal on the reviewed 2013 Report on the implementation of the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance and the Law on Personal Data Protection to the National Assembly and propose that it be considered by urgent procedure.

The Committee on the Judiciary, Public Administration and Local Self-Government also discussed the Anti-Corruption Agency 2013 Activity Report with the Report on the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy of the Republic of Serbia for the period 2013 to 2018 and the Action Plan for its implementation. The Report was presented by Anti-Corruption Agency Director Tatjana Babic, who gave a comprehensive overview of the Agency’s work, covering both the concrete results of the Agency’s efforts and the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and the Action Plan for its implementation.

By a majority vote, the Committee members decided to submit the Report accompanied by a Decision Proposal on the reviewed Anti-Corruption Agency 2013 Activity Report to the National Assembly and propose that it be considered by urgent procedure.

The sitting was chaired by Petar Petrovic, Committee Chairman.