Transparency Act: demand for extension to municipalities

High fees used as a deterrent

Hundert also criticized the way in which the fees charged are handled. In individual cases, the costs were set so high that the impression was created that the body responsible for transparency wanted to deter the applicant with the help of the high costs. "Such an approach is inadmissible," said Hundert. However, it is not a systematic problem.

If the cost of the application exceeds 600 euros, citizens and companies must pay a fee. A maximum of 2,500 euros can be charged.

Citizens have accepted the law well

On the whole, however, Hundert drew a positive balance after almost two years of practice with the Saxon Transparency Act: "Citizens have accepted the new law well and the authorities subject to transparency requirements have also adapted well to the law."

Among other things, the hundreds of inquiries received by Saxon authorities via the "Ask the State" online portal indicate that the opportunities have been used extensively. She described it as a "huge gain for our democracy" that Saxony, like almost all other federal states and the federal government, now guarantees the right to freedom of information.

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