Slovenian experience MEASURES TO STRENGHTEN THE CIVIL DIALOGUE AND PARTNERSHIP Irma Mežnarič Brussels - 10 October 2006

Analysis on past experiences – main objectives To analyse existing situation concerning the involvement of NGOs in policy-making Formulation of recommendations Awareness-building about the importance of involvement of interested public and particularly NGOs in policy-making

Line objectives Legal and other basis for cooperation between the Government and the NGOs Policy areas in which NGOs cooperate with line ministries Evaluation of the NGO influence on policy- making Financial resources for cooperation and involvement of NGOs in policy-making

Main findings 21 line ministries and governmental offices finance NGOs, 8 of them in the field of policy formulation (surveys, expert opinions, joint meetings, travel costs, trainings…) Total amount for the financing of NGOs is 30 million EUR, funds for their involvement in policy-making 118,450 EUR = 0.4%

ADOPTED MEASURES for development of civil dialogue and partnership -Amanded Rules of Procedure - Methodology for implementation and monitoring of the Statement on Reduction of Administrative Burdens and Participation of Interested Public

INCORPORATION OF THE STATEMENT ON RAB AND PIP Statement on friendly and effective administration Rules of procedure of the Government of the RS Initial impact assessment of regulations Effects for the relationship between PA and clients Internal and public consultation on the regulation Statement on RAB and PIP

RIA SITUATION ASSESSMENT (problem identification) AIM, which we would like to achieve VARIOUS PATHS TOWARDS THE GOAL MONITORING & EVALVATION OF CHOSEN PATHS (policies) COMPARING OPTIONS AND CHOOSING THE BEST ONE IMPACT ASSESSMENT economic social environmental CONSULTATIONS WITH INTERESTED PUBLIC aim of consultation Subject of consultations To whom to consult with How to consult When to consult

STATEMENT ON Participation of interested public – questionnaire 3Consultation regarding proposed regulation 3.1 Was the regulation published on the internet? If yes, for how long? If not, why not? written explanation 3.2 Which non-governmental organizations or representatives of interested public were particularly invited to cooperate at the regulation proposal? written explanation 3.3 Which non-governmental organizations or representatives of interested public submitted remarks? written explanation 3.4 In which points was the consistency with submitted remarks not achieved? Indicate reasons for not taking the remarks into consideration. written explanation

Training programme - How to develop skills for implementing consultative governance (project to be funded by Norwegian financial mechanism)

Objective: How to implement consultative governence (i)When should consultation be undertaken in the policy development process? (ii)How should the process of consultation be managed? (iii)Which form and mechanisms of consultation are possible and which should be chosen? (iv)Who should be consulted? (v)What are the relations between consultation and other instruments of participatory government and how should these relations be managed? (vi)How should the capacities of public administrative bodies and stakeholders in the civil society be strengthened to make mechanisms of consultation more efficient and truly representative? (vii)How should the awareness of participatory government be raised among public officials and representatives of the civil society? (viii)Which aspects of consultation and dialogue are particularly important to the development of sustainable development, and how should these aspects be incorporated into policy processes?

Agreement on Cooperation between the Government and NGOs - Establishment of an integral mechanism for sustainable dialogue - Regulation of the legal environment for the strengthening and development of NGOs - Arrangement of mechanisms for Public financing of the NGOs sector comparable to other EU Member States - Introduction of mechanisms for stimulation of employment in the NGOs sector in Slovenia

Mechanisms for sustainable civil dialogue Implementation of the principle of sustainable civil dialogue -Designing standards of consultation -Identifying ways of cooperation -Designing measures for assesment Measures and bodies necessary for civil dialogue - Standing interdeparmental working group for solving of open questions in the field of cooperation between the Government and NGOs - to set up conditions for better operation of NGOs

Understanding the role and interaction between public bodies and NGOs - Educational and training programmes for public bodies and NGOs Promotion of partnership and sustainable civil dialogue - National conference - Best practices - Inclusion of the NGOs subject in educational programmes on all levels of education