© EIPA – Craig Robertson - slide 1 Administrative Reform: The Lisbon Strategy: and Good Governance Craig Robertson Senior Lecturer, EIPA Conference organised

© EIPA – Craig Robertson - slide 1

Administrative Reform: The Lisbon Strategy: and Good Governance

Craig RobertsonSenior Lecturer, EIPA

Conference organised by the Greek Ministry of the Interior: ‘Participating in Growth’

Athens, 5-6 June 2008


Speaker Background

Currently Senior Lecturer at EuropeanInstitute of Public Administration

• Main focus on Governance, Reducing ‘Red-Tape’, Better Policy-Making

Previously in Strategic Planning &Programming/Better Regulation Units,Secretariat General, European Commission

UK Civil Servant

Thus, wide experience in implementing andmanaging processes of administrative reform


Structure of Presentation

1. What is ‘Lisbon’ and Why Does it Matter?

2. The wider picture: Good Governance and Better Policy-Making

3. What does it all mean for public administrations?


What is ‘Lisbon’• March 2000 European Council (Heads of State and

Government) in Lisbon– Agreement on a strategy to ‘modernise Europe’– Famous objective to make the EU:

“the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-driven economy by 2010”

– Seek to do so by:• Preparing transition to knowledge-based economy & society by

more research and use of information technology, structural reforms to promote competitiveness and innovation, and completing the internal market

• Modernising the European social model, investing in people and combating social exclusion

• Sustaining the healthy economic outlook and favourable growth prospects by applying an appropriate macro-economic policy mix

– Main issues to address in order to meet the goals:• the necessary investment in R&D i.e. three per cent of GDP • reduction of red tape to promote entrepreneurship • achieving an employment rate of 70 per cent (60 per cent for

women)


What is ‘Lisbon’ (cont.)• 2004 Mid-Term Review of ‘Lisbon’

– Kok Report:• Little progress since 2000• Recommends to refocus agenda on growth and

employment

• Spring 2005– Lisbon re-launched!– Agreement to prioritise actions designed to promote jobs

and economic growth– Greater ‘ownership’ of objectives by Member States– Simpler structures for reporting progress

• Commission proposes ‘Integrated Guidelines’ for Member State actions

– Guidelines cover employment, micro- and macro-economic policies

• These form basis of Member State ‘National Reform Programmes’, setting out plans to meet Lisbon objectives

• Member States report annually on progress to the European Commission


Why does it matter?• Economic reforms to respond to challenges of

‘globalisation’

• Demographic changes– Less young people working– More older people to support

• EC estimate of a 1% reduction in potential rate of economic growth by 2040

• Enhances efficiency– For example, through competition

• Reducing administrative costs allows business to focus on core activities

– Estimate of 1% GDP growth boost by reducing existing Administrative Costs by 25%


The Wider Picture: Good Governance

A ‘Governance Crisis’?

‘Alienation from politics is not just a European problem, it is global, national and local.’ - COM(2001)428

- Declining public confidence in political and government institutions to tackle complex problems and challenges ...

- Corruption scandals & nepotism ...

- ‘Excessive red-tape’ ...

- Value for Money considerations ...


Five Principles of Good Governance

Taken from 2001 White Paper on European Governance – COM(2001)428

1.Openness Administrations need to work in a more open

manner Actively communicate what they do and why Use simple and accessible language

2. Participation Ensure wide participation throughout policy-

development and implementation processes to improve quality, relevance and effectiveness of policies


Five Principles of Good Governance - 2

3. AccountabilityThose responsible for making decisions need to be held

accountable for those decisionsGreater clarity of respective roles in the policy-making,

legislative and executive processes

4. EffectivenessEffective and timely action should be taken on the basis

of identified need, consideration of what its consequences are likely to be, and in proportion to the problem/challenge

So, decisions to take action need to be made in the light of available evidence


Five Principles of Good Governance - 3

5. Coherence Policies and actions need to be coherent and easily

understood Different policy areas need to coordinate actions and work

better together to ensure consistency


A new approach to policy-making

‘Linear model’:- ‘Dispensing policies from above’

To be replaced by:- ‘A virtuous circle’- Policy-making based on:

- feedback;- networks;- involvement from policy creation to implementation at all levels;

- evidence


What it means for public administrations

• Target (+/- 25%) for all Member States to reduce existing Administrative Burden (information obligations) by 2012

– Requires identification of burden and where it needs to be cut

• Greater use of Information and Communication Technologies to deliver services and information to citizens and businesses

• Simplification of administrative procedures– Greater use of ‘one-stop shops’

• Regulatory reform to avoid/reduce unnecessary or disproportionate regulation

– Particularly for SMEs and ‘start-ups’

• Mechanisms in place to assess relationship between public expenditure and achievement of objectives

• Systematic involvement of stakeholders as part of policy-making processes


Conclusion

• ‘Lisbon’ is agreed as being necessary– Results now believed to be visible

• Good Governance is of value in itself

• Poses challenges for public administrations

• Challenges can be overcome with strong political will and good communications


Craig Robertson, Senior Lecturer

Fields of specialisation: Impact assessment in the EU institutions; principles and main tools used in preparing and pursuing a Better Regulation strategy

Tel. +31 43 3296 237

Fax +31 43 3296 296E-mail: [email protected]

Consult our EIPA web site: http://www.eipa.eu

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© EIPA – Craig Robertson - slide 1 Administrative Reform: The Lisbon Strategy: and Good Governance Craig Robertson Senior Lecturer, EIPA Conference organised