Citizens’ Engagement in National Development Strategies and the Role of Economic and Social Councils

Thomas Halm Secretary-General of the ESC of Hungary

Secretary-General of the Hungarian Economic Association

Nairobi, 7-8 March 2011

Outline

1) Why is the participation of civil society necessary in the formation of development strategies?

2) What does the European Union expect from its Member States in this respect?

3) How was this exercise done in Hungary for the 2007-13 programming period?

4) What lessons can be learnt from this process for other countries?

Development: for the people (!) – by the people (?)

Elected representatives – tied by party interests party discipline

Very focussed proposals, typically: motorways, highways, tramways gyms & swimming pools for schools renovation of town/village centres

Development for the people – by the people (!!)

Civil society organisations Bringing up various ideas Reflecting various interests Activating a relatively large number

of citizens Problem: conflicting ideas and

interests How to prioritise among them?

Development for the people – by the people Prioritisation Economics as a science analyses the

optimum distribution of scarce resources among various competing uses no scientific answer how to use the

resources of development – no “public choice models” (at least in Hungary)

„Shall we repair the hospital building or construct a new road?”

Learning the preferences of stakeholders – integrating them into development plans

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1083/2006

of 11 July 2006laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund

Article 11: Partnership1. The objectives of the Funds shall be pursued

in the framework of close cooperation, (hereinafter referred to as partnership), between the Commission and each Member State. Each Member State shall organise, where appropriate and in accordance with current national rules and practices, a partnership with authorities and bodies such as:

(a) the competent regional, local, urban and other public authorities;

(b) the economic and social partners;(c) any other appropriate body representing civil

society, environmental partners, non-governmental organisations, and bodies responsible for promoting equality between men and women.

1083/2006/EC regulation cont’d

Each Member State shall designate the most representative partners at national, regional and local level and in the economic, social, environmental or other spheres (hereinafter referred to as partners), in accordance with national rules and practices, taking account of the need to promote equality between men and women and sustainable development through the integration of environmental protection and improvement requirements.

1083/2006/EC regulation cont’d

2. The partnership shall be conducted in full compliance with the respective institutional, legal and financial powers of each partner category as defined in paragraph 1.

The partnership shall cover the preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operational programmes. Member States shall involve, where appropriate, each of the relevant partners, and particularly the regions, in the different stages of programming within the time limit set for each stage.

3. Each year the Commission shall consult the organisations representing the economic and social partners at European level on assistance from the Funds.

Partnership of the long-term development concept

51 fora organised on the long-term vision (NGOs + elite surveys)

Direct mail to 3000-plus NGOs 388 responded positively 529 on-line questionnaires filled in Plus 100 comments and proposals on paper

3000-plus votes cast on the list of priorities on the website of the National Development Office

Partnership of the long-term development concept

Special emphasis laid on the involvement of personalities belonging to the opposition (e.g. former ministers)

Involvement of the experts of the opposition parties of the Parliament

Even the opposition acknowledged that this partnership had been “exemplary”

To be proud of…. The opinion of the director of the

European Commission on partnership (in the negotiation process):

“No comment, no question, congratulations!”

Partnership procedure nominated in a competition for “best practices in public administration”

Partners did show interest!

Information brochure published in 20,000 copies, CD-ROM in 3,000

140,000 visits on the website 25,000 (!) downloads of the

Development Concept Officials of the National

Development Office attended more than 200 events

Partnership of the National Development Plan (2007-13)

Direct mail to 5500 potential partners Website/questionnaire for the

comments and proposals Negotiations with national (non-

regional/local) NGOs Regional fora in each county (19), co-

organised by local daily newspapers Partnership fora with national

newspapers and magazines (various interests!)

How to deserve the attention/activity of partners?

Each written comment/proposal received a personalised answer What happened to the proposal and why

Each letter posted (in the original form!) on the website Only two letters had not been published

there Answers also published This procedure developed by the NDO

has become general practice – required by law!

A lengthy series of partnership negotiations… I Long-term Development Concept (2005-

20) April-May 2005

National Strategy on Sustainable Development Sept-Oct 2005

National Reform Programme (LS)Sept-Oct

2005 National Strategic Reference Framework

(National Development Plan II)Oct-Nov

2005

A lengthy series of partnership negotiations… II

Operational programmesJan-March

2006 Calls for proposals (̏ tenders”)

Oct-Nov 2006

Action plans every 2nd year In all: six (!) levels of partnership

negotiations, not all of them required by the EU

“Levels” of partnership

National macro-forums, umbrella organisations – direct contact with the National Development Office

“Specialised” civil society organisation – partners of the line ministries

Regional civil society organisations – partners of the Regional Development Agencies

Some proposals submitted by civil society organisations

Improvement of the state of the (physical) health of the nation

Raising the level of employment (2005!)

Increasing the level of education, reinforcing the knowledge based society

65 % accepted that competitiveness should lead the list of priorities

A very special interpretation of partnership…

December 13, 2005: the European Council adopts the Financial Perspectives for 2007-13

In January 2006 the private office of the PM in Hungary starts negotiations with mayors and regional officials (belonging to his party…) What would you like to see in the

development plan? Result: inventory of development projects In use only until the elections in April 2006

A positive example Civils for the Transparency of the

National Development Plan Eye-catching abbreviation: CNNy Concerning “partnership technology” –

ahead of the National Development Office The partnership procedure was built upon

their proposals From suspicion to mutual understanding and

respect One of their spokespersons became head of the

partnership unit of the NDO…

Lessons (to be) learnt – I

Civil engagement is not only a must for governments it brings genuine enrichment, ‘value added’

Civil representatives have to be involved in the whole cycle of development policy planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation

Development policy (especially in cases of programmes and projects co-financed by the European Union) can involve very complicated and bureaucratic procedures civilians can be watchdogs against over-

complication

Lessons (to be) learnt – II Civil engagement

presupposes the freedom of expression and of the press

can contribute substantially to better regulation and better governance

is indispensable for the transparency and accountability of governance/government

BUT: requires honest, tolerant civil society organisations with considerable expertise

Thank you for your kind attention.