Transparency unit received just two public information requests in three years

The Transparency and Access to Public Information Unit has received only two citizen requests for access to public information in three years, the Government reports. The first request, received in 2022, was not admitted for processing; the second, received in 2024, was initially rejected but was partially granted after appeal.

The 2022 request arrived before the Transparency Unit was created and sought an expert report produced for an unfinished project. Authorities applied the exclusion in article 13.4(a) of the transparency law, considering the document auxiliary material such as notes, drafts, opinions and internal communications between administrative bodies, and therefore not admissible. The ministry only became aware of the report through information shared in a working group of the General Council.

The 2024 request was initially denied by the ministry responsible on the grounds that it concerned internal information. The applicant appealed to the National Commission for Access and Evaluation of Documentation (CNAAD). The CNAAD reviewed the arguments and declared the appeal partially well founded. The requester had sought job descriptions and assigned classification levels from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Civil Service, as well as the detailed scores or valuations produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers using the STRATA methodology, the detailed valuation/weighting criteria used, and the criteria applied to assign levels based on those scores. Following the CNAAD decision, the ministry provided the information deemed lawful; some elements remained subject to the limitation in article 11.1 of the law and other parts were not admissible for processing. Rejected and partially rejected decisions are also published on the transparency website.

The Transparency Unit says its internal procedures have been consolidated in recent years, strengthening mechanisms for processing, monitoring and resolving requests. The Secretariat of State for Citizen Participation prioritizes timely, clear responses that comply with the legal framework, including data protection and confidentiality safeguards. The Government adds it is promoting improvements to increase proactive disclosure and facilitate public access to information via institutional portals, while acknowledging transparency is a dynamic process requiring constant updating. Efforts continue to optimise technological tools and reinforce an organisational culture of open government. The Secretariat of State for Equality and Citizen Participation says it works continuously to ensure the effective application of Law 33/2021 on transparency, access to public information and open government, which it regards as fundamental to strengthening citizen trust and consolidating an open government model.