Danish Maritime Authority Use Open Mail Lists

 

The Ministry of Health and the Danish Maritime Authority both take part in a pilot project with open mail lists, starting on 1 January 2015.

The Danish Maritime Authority as well as the Ministry of Health have been appointed to take part in a pilot project on open mail lists, starting on 1 January 2015.

The pilot project has its background in the revised open administration act that entered into force on 1 January 2014. The purpose of open post lists is to provide citizens and media with a better possibility of becoming aware of documents, etc. that are sent to and from public authorities.

As of 1 January 2015 – in practice as of 5 January – an open mail list will therefore be available from the Danish webpage of the Danish Maritime Authority containing information about the letters, e-mails, etc. received or posted.

When will mail be shown on the mail list?
As a general rule, the information will be available from the webpage two days after the Danish Maritime Authority’s receipt or posting of mail. However, deviations can occur if the relevant case workers are prevented from record keeping, for example due to official journeys, course participation, holidays or illness.

Which information will be included on the mail list?
The mail list will contain the date of receipt or posting, the name of the addressee or the addresser or the nature of the communication (such as “communication from a citizen” if an individual is the addresser or the addressee), a brief thematic description of the contents as well as the case number and document number.

The documents as such (letters, e-mails, etc.) will not be published. Any requests for access to documents included on the mail list will be considered in accordance with the general provisions on public access to administrative documents.

In general, the post list will include information about all the documents posted and received. However, cases, documents and information that are exempted from the right to public access to administrative documents pursuant to the open administration act will not be included on the mail list.

The names of natural persons (citizens) will not be evident from the mail list. The same applies to other information about individuals’ personal data as well as any other information that is subject to professional secrecy.

However, the names of legal persons, such as public authorities, national and international organisations, associations and companies, will as a general rule be included on the mail list.