RIA: Communication – building credibility Aleš Pecka Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic

Introduction to Regulatory Reform (RR) Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Introduction brought by the OECD Regulatory review in 2001 Benefit of the outside international „pressure“ Report 2001 discussed by the Government Recommendation: Elaborate guidelines and implement the Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) into the decision-making process Aleš Pecka

Implementation of RIA Pilot phase (2005-2006): Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Pilot phase (2005-2006): Application of the Draft Guidelines for conducting the impact assessment on selected legislative proposals Draft guidelines updated with the involvement of the representatives of businesses (Council for Development of Business Environment) On the basis of the gained experience: Guidelines reviewed and completed by the end of December 2006 Aleš Pecka

Implementation of RIA Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Guidelines for Regulatory Impact Assessment adopted by Government in August 2007 Full impact assessment obligatory to all drafts of primary and secondary laws from November 2007 elaborated on the level of Government Aleš Pecka

keep explaining and get everybody on the board…. What is RIA about? Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Implementation of RIA is not only about rules and institutions (nevertheless important) – it is (also) a change of culture within the public administration keep explaining and get everybody on the board…. Identify particular groups – key players …choose the right communication strategy towards each group Aleš Pecka

Challenge: How to explain RIA? Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic RIA – a tool for transparency Impact assessment study represents a clear guide and provides executive summary for everybody (not only politicians or public servants) as regards reasoning of the chosen option and nature of a proposal the benefits outweigh the costs (avoiding “wrong”, costly decisions…) The change can only be gradual, the „snowball effect“ helps... Demonstrate the foreign examples, bring the experts from abroad to seminars and let them present and discuss the concrete issues… Aleš Pecka

To whom shall we communicate? Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Politicians Public servants Legislators Social partners and NGOs Media Aleš Pecka

Hold seminars with foreign partners Politicians Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Politicians are important and indispensable target group to be involved RIA does not replace political decision-making, it provides only well-founded information for decision-makers… Therefore: demonstrate the real benefits – examples of successful impact assessments from the pilot phase Hold seminars with foreign partners Aleš Pecka

Anticipate natural resistance Public servants Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Anticipate natural resistance „We will have to do much more work within the same given time…, deadlines remain…“ „RIA is the concept imported from abroad and not fitted to our domestic conditions…; „We have been doing well already in our way…“ Moreover: Traditional legal approach Primary focus on the quality of legal texts Aleš Pecka

RIA is therefore for their use, to help them! Public servants Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic At first sight, new and more demanding work for public servants, but in a number of cases public servants actually do already make partial impact assessment – RIA only provides for the structure and the systematic approach RIA is therefore for their use, to help them! Provide training (to learn the methodology) – useful input from academics (tutors) Simulation of real cases, discussion and exchange of views within internal seminars Aleš Pecka

Assure contacts with foreign legislators Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Most difficult ones However, proper RIA can help them in decision making: choice of the most suitable options Assure contacts with foreign legislators Again, good example policy works: Presentation of good RIAs with draft laws Positive example to follow: Government evaluates, so can do the legislators Aleš Pecka

Social partners and NGOs Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Evident beneficiaries: RIA is the tool to involve them in the decision-making process from its very beginning They are to fulfill a very important role Must be ready for collaboration and data provision to the legislators = provision of necessary background information and input from practice Make them aware of the this role Invite them to the seminars with politicians = creation of joint pressure Involve them in horizontal bodies Aleš Pecka

RIA – a difficult topic to cover Media Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic RIA – a difficult topic to cover Usually perceived as another bureaucratic tool and procedure Useful to target information campaign mostly towards economic journals (most familiar with the concept of impact assessment) Present RIA as a tool, which would help, if used, to avoid bad, e.g. costly decisions from the recent history in your country Aleš Pecka

Important element in the RIA process RIA: Consultation Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Important element in the RIA process How to approach the stakeholders? Do we know them? Create a supportive tool!: Database of consulted organisations in the Czech Rep. Accessible on the special website Contacts to the stakeholder’ organisations structured according to the particular topics, areas and economic sectors Voluntary registration Aleš Pecka

How to learn Public Administration to consult? Department of Regulatory Reform and Public Administration Quality, Ministry of the Interior, Czech Republic Methodology of Public Consultation (2007) Government launched the testing phase lasting till the end of 2008 Involvement of public on selected legislative and non-legislative proposals Lessons learned – input into the review of the Methodology by the end 2008 and its planned final approval Aleš Pecka

Thank you for your attention! Aleš Pecka e-mail : ales.pecka@mvcr.cz