Open Government in Slovenia

Open Government in SloveniaAleš DobnikarMinistry of Public Administration Slovenia

Legislative and policy measures for open and transparent government • The Resolution on Legislative Regulation, adopted in

2009 - involvement of citizens, local communities, NOG, … democratic legislation preparation process

• Any political authority and its civil servants need to collaborate with the public when preparing legislation

• Minimum time frame for public debate - 30 to 60 days

e-Democracy cannot be successful if it is not supported by clear standards for involving the public in decision-making processes.

Measures1. e-Democracy portal

2. Information Support for Legislative Drafting

3. Web tool: my-suggestion.gov.si

4. Burden reduction programme

Measures

1 - e-Democracy portal

e-Democracy portal• E-Democracy portal is a part of the

e-Gov portal • Citizens can:

• actively participate in the procedure of legal acts preparation

• contact elected representatives• obtain information related to national legislation, EU

legislative procedures, information of a public character, …• address questions as well as receive answers on

democracy related subjects

2 - Information Support for Legislative Drafting• Established in April 2010 • Enabling unified operations for drafting legislation

to all ministries and government bodies on the one hand

• Enhance participation of interested public in drafting of legislation.

• The information are much easier accessible to all ministries engaged in drafting:more coherent legislation.

Information Support for Legislative Drafting

• April 2010 – Nov 2010• Acts: 140• Decrees: 250• Regulations: 438

3 - Web tool: my-suggestion.gov.si• my.suggestion.gov.si web tool - Nov 2009• Citizens can:

• express their opinions, suggestions and proposals for the regulation of certain substantive issues

• call for a systemic government solution, resulting eventually also as an e-government service.

• Citizens' proposals are presented publicly and enter into a public debate. • Suggestions that get the support of the majority of people voting get a public

response of a competent authority in no later than 30 days. • If the proposed solution is identified as a valid one, it follows through with

the change in the policy or regulation of the issue.

Web tool: my-suggestion.gov.si• Based on the open platform • Registration - anonymous users:

• Facebook Connect (PVS)• Sign in with Twitter (PVS)• OpenID

• Within 24 hours after the publication: 80 proposals submitted

• One year after the launch:• 1.201 proposals, 7.021 comments• 251 proposals that received the highest support online forwarded to the

competent authorities, 235 already with the responds

My-suggestion.gov.si: Establishment of the Animal police• In June 2010: Proposal for establishment of Animal police

submitted• The most vital discussion so far through Facebook and

web forumes: • 438 comments received

• Result: Veterinary Administration returned positive respond supporting the implementation -the organizational issues of the Animal police establishment is under the study

4 - The realisation of burden reduction programme

• The suggestions via e-mail address • A collection and analysis of proposals for burden

reduction submitted by interested stakeholders • The best proposals are then inspected and included

in the government's programme. • On the basis of useful and innovative suggestions

the government every year adopts the programme for the removal of administrative burdens.

The realisation of burden reduction programme• Disburdening of small companies in the field of regulations

dealing with personal data protection • Employment of foreigners and seasonal labour - shortening the

procedure for issuing work permits, as well as the procedure for aquisition of foreigners’ temporary residence permits

• Simplification of procedures in the area of public procurement - data is now collected electronicaly form the official registers

• Simplification of procedures for exercising rights upon childs - possibility of electronic application submission, elimination of territorial jurisdiction, introduction of a single contact point, simplification of forms, …

•Quality e-government and quality e-democracy are impossible to achieve without quality administration and strong political will and commitment

•Innovations and continuous improvement must be the guiding foundations of public governance

•Open government can help strengthen trust and build indispensable support for reform

Is my government thinking

about me first?