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 (?)
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Elected representatives – tied by
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party interests
party discipline
Very focussed proposals, typically:
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motorways, highways, tramways
gyms & swimming pools for schools
renovation of town/village centres
Development for the people –
by the people (!!)
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Civil society organisations
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Bringing up various ideas
Reflecting various interests
Activating a relatively large number of
citizens
Problem: conflicting ideas and interests
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How to prioritise among them?
Development for the people –
by the people
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Prioritisation
Economics as a science analyses the optimum
distribution of scarce resources among
various competing uses
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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 2006
laying down general provisions on the
European Regional Development Fund,
the European Social Fund and the
Cohesion Fund
Article 11: Partnership
1. 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
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51 fora organised on the long-term vision
(NGOs + elite surveys)
Direct mail to 3000-plus NGOs
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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
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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….
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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!
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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)
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Direct mail to 5500 potential partners
Website/questionnaire for the comments and
proposals
Negotiations with national (nonregional/local) NGOs
Regional fora in each county (19), coorganised by local daily newspapers
Partnership fora with national newspapers
and magazines (various interests!)
How to deserve the
attention/activity of partners?
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Each written comment/proposal received a
personalised answer
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Each letter posted (in the original form!) on
the website
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What happened to the proposal and why
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
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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
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Operational programmes
Jan-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
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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
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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…
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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…)
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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
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Civils for the Transparency of the National
Development Plan
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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
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One of their spokespersons became head of the
partnership unit of the NDO…
Lessons (to be) learnt – I
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Civil engagement is not only a must for
governments
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Civil representatives have to be involved in the
whole cycle of development policy
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it brings genuine enrichment, ‘value added’
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
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civilians can be watchdogs against over-complication
Lessons (to be) learnt – II
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Civil engagement
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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.