Information leaflet on the compliance with requests for data of public interest at Eötvös Loránd University

Dear Visitor,

In compliance with Section (2) of Article VI of the Fundamental Law of Hungary, every person shall have the right to access data of public interest. The definitions of data of public interest and of data public on grounds of public interest are determined by Act CXII of 2011 on informational self-determination and freedom of information (hereinafter: Information Act).

In accordance with the Information Act, data of public interest means “information or data other than personal data registered in any mode or form concerning activities undertaken and controlled by the body or individual carrying out state or local government responsibilities, as well as other public duties defined in relevant legislation, regardless of their mode of control, independent or collective nature; therefore, with special regard to data concerning the scope of authority, competence, organisational structure, professional activity and evaluation equally encompassing its effectiveness, the type of data held and legislation regulating operation, as well as data concerning financial management and concluded contracts”. Data public on grounds of public interest means“data other than data of public interest, the disclosure of or the access to which is provided for by the law, in the public interest”

In accordance with Subsection (1) of Section 28 of the Information Act, requests for access to data of public interest or to data public on grounds of public interest (hereinafter: data of public interest) may be made verbally, submitted in writing or electronically by anyone.

In order to ensure compliance with these provisions, the Senate of Eötvös Loránd University ­­– as Appendix No. 15 of its Organisational and Operational Regulations – adopted the University’s Data Protection, Data Safety and Data Control Regulations (in Hungarian).

The following sections aim to provide an overview of the most important information related to submitting data requests as per in the Regulations.

Requests for accessing data of public interest may be made verbally (personally or on the phone), submitted in writing (by mail or via fax) or electronically (at the address rektor@elte.hu) by anyone.

The data request shall include the following:

  • name of the applicant submitting the data request,
  • if the applicant is not a natural person, the name of its representative,
  • the postal address of the applicant,
  • contact information during business hours (telephone number  or e-mail address),
  • exact specification of the data requested,
  • a statement on the applicant’s request to see the data personally or for copies to be made thereof,
  • if the applicant requests copies, the method of their delivery (personally, via mail or electronically).

In order to facilitate proper submission of data requests, the University prepared a template that can be downloaded here (in Hungarian).

You can find information on the rights and legal redress opportunities here.

The complete list of proceedings for requests of data of public interest can be found in Sections 25 through 35 of the University’s Data Protection, Data Safety and Data Control Regulations.