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OECD Insights on Reforms of the Territorial Administration in European Countries. Public A dministration as a Tool for Promoting G rowth Budapest 29 November 2013. Mr Filippo Cavassini Policy Analyst Governance Reviews and Partnerships Division
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OECD Insights onReforms of the Territorial Administrationin European Countries Public Administration as a Tool for Promoting Growth Budapest 29 November 2013 Mr Filippo Cavassini Policy Analyst Governance Reviews and Partnerships Division Public Governance and Territorial Development
What is the territorial administration? • Local administration of the central government that has delegated powers but no legal autonomy vis-à-vis the central government • Also known as deconcentrated central/state administration
What data do we have? Source: OECD (2013), Government at a Glance 2013. OECD Publishing
What data do we have? Source: OECD (2013), Government at a Glance 2013. OECD Publishing
INSIGHTS FROM OECD PUBLIC GOVERNANCE REVIEWS
Public Governance Reviews (PGRs) • A 360-degree diagnostic of government performance, including in-depth analysis, actionable recommendations and implementation support • Supporting public administration reform in a number of EU countries • Comprehensive reviews of public governance in Ireland (2008), Finland (2010), Estonia (2011), Slovenia (2012), Poland (2013) • Reviews of selected governance issues in France (2012) and Greece (2010-2013) • On-going work in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain
The Strategic State • A strategic state matters for growth and well-being • Long-term vision, foresight and agility • Leadership and stewardship from the centre • Integrity and transparency • Institutional strength and networks • Inclusive and effective processes • Implementation in support of real outcomes and impact for the economy and society • All the building blocks of a strategic state can relate to the territorial administration—focus on: • Institutional aspects • Implementation/service delivery aspects
Evolving institutional role • Transferring powers and responsibilities to local self-government monitoring and oversight role of the territorial administration • Finland: reduction in the number and responsibilities of state provincial offices and granting of operational and economic independence to municipalities (1990s) • Poland: decentralisation reform assigning important responsibilities for economic development and service delivery to municipalities, provinces and regions (1990-2000) • Broadening and deepening the structure and responsibilities of the territorial administration • Hungary: establishment of district offices and reform of the local government system (2010- ) • Slovenia: establishment of administrative units taken over state functions performed by municipalities (1995)
On the front line in service delivery • Increased attention for improving access to administrative services through one-stop shops • France: Points publics and Plates-formes de Services Publics (2000s) • Hungary: District Offices (2013- ) • Slovakia: KAMO Offices (2012- ) • Streamlining back-office structures • France: key tax functions consolidated into a single Public Finances Directorate (2008) • Hungary: establishment of the Office of Public Administration and Justice as the key interface between central and deconcentrated levels (2011- ) • Slovakia: consolidating local state administration offices and establishment of regional and district support offices (2012- )
Emerging lessons • Evolving structures and responsibilities of the territorial administration • One size does not fit all • Important to consider the relationship with local self-government to ensure synergies and co-operation • Key to ensure vertical and horizontal co-operation within the central administration • Key role of the territorial administration in delivering services to citizens and businesses • Human and financial resources need to support tasks and responsibilities • Front-line services and back-office structures need to be aligned to ensure efficiency and effectiveness • Administrative simplification and e-government can support reform
OECD on-going and future work • Deepening the understanding of the structures and roles of the territorial administration across countries • Data collection and analysis • Functional reviews • Supporting in-country territorial administration reform through in-depth analysis, policy dialogue, sharing of international experience • One-stop shops • Administrative simplification • Human resources management • E-government • Integrity and transparency