In February 2004, the National Assembly adopted the Act on the Access to Information of Public Character.  In this way, the National Assembly has regulated the constitutional right of citizens to obtain information of public character. In its Article 39, the Slovenian constitution stipulates that all citizens are entitled to obtain information of public character if they can present heir legal interest defined by the Act, except in the cases stipulated by the law. Equally, the Act on the Access to Information of Public Character allows the citizens to enjoy their constitutional right under Article 44 which stipulates direct and indirect participation of citizens in the management of public affairs.
 
The adoption of this act is also a step towards a higher degree of harmonization of the legislation of the Republic of Slovenia with the European Union ‘acquis’. Its enforcement will increase the transparency of the public administration operation, since the Act transfers part of tasks of supervising the public administration operation, at the same time providing several legal instruments to ensure the right to obtain information of public character.
 
Information of public character includes all information covering the area of work of a public institution or body. It is available in the form of a document, matter, dossier, file, record or documentary material produced either by the public institution or body itself, in cooperation with other bodies, or obtained by other entities.
 
The access to information of public character is, however, not without restrictions. In its Article 6, the Act lists twelve cases in which an institution or body can refuse the application due to a specific character of information requested by the applicant (if, for example, the applicant requests a piece of information which is, according to the Act Regulating Confidential Data defined as confidential, or if the applicant requests personal information whose disclosure would infringe the rules for personal data protection, or if the disclosure would harmfully affect the implementation of a court or administrative procedure...).