NAVIGATING E-DEMOCRACY THROUGH THE ANALYSIS OF OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS. COMPARATIVE LEGAL FRAMEWORK ROMANIA VS BULGARIA

Abstract

Both Bulgaria and Romania share the common goal of fostering open and accountable governance, and their diverse legislative strategies offer valuable lessons for the broader context of democratic development. This article highlights the significance of transparency and access to public information through digitalization in both countries, emphasizing their roles in strengthening democratic societies. Both countries pursued distinct legislative approaches to achieve transparency goals. In Bulgaria, the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) has been instrumental in promoting transparency by mandating the proactive publication of specific information categories. On the other hand, Romania's Administrative Code, particularly Annex 1, represents a significant stride in modernizing public administration. It focuses on digital freedom of information and introduces the digital Local Official Electronic Journal. This comparative analysis aims to shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, highlighting progress and challenges, and providing insights into the evolution of transparency and accountability in these Southeast European countries.