According to the Public Administration Principles Assessment Report published by SIGMA, Montenegro recorded the best score in the Western Balkans for the indicator - use of evidence and impact assessment during policy making, as well as the quality and accessibility of laws.
The Ministry of Finance announced that SIGMA, a joint initiative of the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), provides expert support to countries in the process of public administration reform and EU accession.
"As part of this program, the Principles of Public Administration have been developed, which represent a framework for improving the transparency, accountability and efficiency of public administration in line with EU standards," the statement said.
SIGMA's analysis for Montenegro, conducted between February and April last year, focused on progress in key areas of reform, particularly the implementation of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA).
The implementation of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) in Montenegro has seen significant progress in the past period. According to the report's findings, RIA was conducted for as many as 96 percent of draft laws adopted by the Government during 2023, or 43 out of 45 laws, while for secondary legislation, the percentage was 63 percent.
"These results indicate a high degree of consistency in the application of the process, whereby Montenegro has achieved significant alignment with European practices in this area. In addition to the quantitative coverage, the quality of the RIA reports was also recognized, as all analyzed samples had key elements, including problem analysis, definition of objectives, justification of Government interventions and identification of the main affected groups. A basic qualitative assessment of relevant impacts was also present in all reviewed reports," the statement said.
The implementation of RIA in Montenegro is supported by a strong institutional framework. The Ministry of Finance plays a key role in overseeing and quality control of RIA reports, as well as providing guidance and methodological support.
"The RIA manuals and guidelines are considered clear and comprehensive, as confirmed by the results of the SIGMA survey among public servants, according to which 70 percent of respondents emphasize the availability and usefulness of these resources. In addition, the Ministry of Finance regularly provides support to local government units in building their capacities for implementing RIA, which contributes to the dissemination of good practice at the local level," the Ministry said.
Montenegro has also made progress in transparency. All RIA reports are publicly available on the official government website, allowing citizens and stakeholders to gain insight into decision-making processes.
"Also, the Ministry of Finance regularly publishes reports on the implementation of RIA, which further strengthens public confidence," the statement concluded.
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