Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić met today with the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection Rodoljub Šabić to discuss current problems encountered by the Commissioner in his work and to examine ways of achieving closer cooperation between the Commissioner and the Government and other national authorities. The meeting took place in the offices of the Commissioner.

Prime Minister Vučić underscored it was necessary to ensure more frequent communication between the Commissioner and members of the Serbian Government. The parties agreed that monthly meetings with the Ombudsman and the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance should become a regular practice.

The Commissioner noted continual progress was seen in the field of freedom of information last year, notwithstanding certain issues and the increasing number of complaints received by the Commissioner from citizens and entities, while the situation in the field of personal data protection was unacceptable and a matter of grave concern.

The Commissioner recalled he had submitted a Bill on Personal Data Protection to the Government and that a Bill of Amendments to the Law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance had been prepared earlier. He received assurances from the Prime Minister that these bills would be considered in an expedited procedure. The Prime Minister welcomed the Commissioner's initiative for an Action Plan on Achievement of European Standards in the Field of Personal Data Protection.