The Brno company Jižní centrum must provide information according to the law

Brno - The company South Centre Brno, which was established by the city for the development of the area south of the train station, is subject to the law on free access to information. It must therefore respond to requests for information, similar to authorities or state-controlled companies. This was definitively confirmed by the Supreme Administrative Court (NSS), which dismissed the appeal of the South Centre in a dispute with the civic association Brnění. ČTK learned this from the official bulletin.
    In the past, the company refused to provide activists from Brnění with contracts with the development company Europark-FP. It claimed that it is not a public institution and furthermore cited trade secrets. Last October, the Regional Court in Brno ruled that the South Centre is subject to the information law. "We did not receive the information even then, and the deadline had already passed. The South Centre ignored the judgment," said Matěj Hollan from Brnění. ČTK is seeking a statement from the company.
    The Regional Court specifically stated that the South Centre Brno meets all legal criteria for mandatory subjects under the law on free access to information. The company was established by the city of Brno, which also partially directly and partially through the general meeting appoints its management and oversees its activities. Additionally, the company fulfills a public purpose according to the court.
    "Although the defendant is formally a private law entity, it shows characteristics indicating its public nature, and is thus considered a public institution within the meaning of the law on free access to information," stated the ruling of the regional court. South Centre Brno defended itself through an appeal, which the Supreme Administrative Court has now dismissed. However, it has not yet published the reasoning. The judges have 30 days to prepare it.
    The South Centre company was established in 1994. Its goal is to create conditions for the development of a new quarter south of the train station. The area of the so-called South Centre is approximately 135 hectares. The land is long-term reserved for development projects, including the proposed relocation of the train station. The municipality is now planning to merge the company with Brno Communications.