Who are we?

The Information and Privacy Agency (AIP) is an independent agency responsible for the supervision and implementation of Law No. 06/L-082 on Protection of Personal Data and Law No. 06/L-081 on Access to Public Documents in the Republic of Kosovo.

The main purpose of the Information and Privacy Agency is to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of natural persons relating to the processing of personal data and grant access to public documents, with the aim of transparency and accountability of public institutions.

The Agency reports to the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and acts independently in fulfilling its duties and exercising its powers, operates freely from external influence and does not receive instructions from anyone.

The duties and powers of IPA are defined within the legal provisions which the agency is responsible to supervise.

Based on the legislation of the Republic of Kosovo, the Agency has the right to take measures and impose fines which are provided for by Law No. 06/L-081 on Access to Public Documents as well as Law No. 06/L-082 on Protection of Personal Data.

The Information and Privacy Agency also deals with the promotion and informing of public institutions about the implementation of these laws, at the same time it also provides training on the areas of supervision, information sessions, conferences in public institutions and beyond, which are related to the implementation of the Law on Protection of Personal Data and the Law on Access to Public Documents.

Other responsibilities of the agency are as follows:

  • Monitoring and reporting of compliance with these laws in public institutions
  • Recommending changes and reforms of a general nature
  • Cooperation with institutions responsible for organizing and holding trainings for access to public documents
  • Publishing the obligations of public institutions arising from the law
  • Guaranteeing the rights of each person within these laws
  • Taking the measures provided for in the framework of the law
  • Initiating declassification procedures of classified documents according to the relevant law on the classification of documents.

IPA cooperates with the state institutions as well as international organizations for the purpose of promoting Personal Data Protection and Access to Public Documents.

 

Access to Public Documents

Access to public documents is a right granted by the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo has a Law on Access to Public Documents since 2019, which has generally improved the legal regulative and has enhanced access to public documents.

The Law is in accordance with the international standards in the field of access to public documents, granting the right to every natural and legal person for access to documents of public institutions.

The Information and Privacy Agency is an institution responsible for monitoring the implementation of this law and responding to complaints, including providing assistance for the purpose of accountability and transparency of public institutions.

 

Personal Data Protection

Personal Data Protection in the Republic of Kosovo is guaranteed by constitutional and legal protection, based on Law No. 06/L-082 on Protection of Personal Data, which regulates the right to privacy, respect for private and family life, inviolability of the house, confidentiality of correspondence, telephone, communications and protection of personal data.

The Law on Protection of Personal Data is aligned with the EU Regulation 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data.

IPA is an institution responsible for the supervision and implementation of this law, whereby IPA has undertaken a series of initiatives for the purpose of advancing personal data protection by addressing a considerable number of complaints, imposing fines for violations relating to the protection of personal data.

Advising public and private bodies, making decisions on submitted complaints, inspections and controls, informing the public, promoting and supporting basic rights for the protection of personal data are part of the main scope of the Information and Privacy Agency.