GOVERNMENT REFORM IN ITALY: STATE OF THE ART Franco BASSANINI Cabinet Minister for Public Administration Italy Today: Public Administration Issues AD HOC COUNCIL - Rome November 13, 2000 www.funzionepubblica.it The need for Reform in the early nineties An obsolete administration: no government-wide reforms since 1865 An inefficient administration: islands of excellence in a sea of general inefficiency A costly administration: crucial need to balance the budget and reduce public debt 2 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The need for Reform public debt up to 1994 (% of GDP) 135 124,9 119,1 125 115 105 95 82,3 85 75 65 55 70 57,7 59,9 86,3 95,6 90,5 92,6 98 108,7 101,5 75,2 64,9 80 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Source: Italy - Ministry of the Treasury 3 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Calls for Reform The need for change drives large calls for Reform and consequently a large consensus among: Public Business Labor Parliament (a bipartisan reform) 4 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The Tools of Reform A broad “delegating law” (legge delega) n. 59 of 1997: Parliament delegates Government the power to adopt “legislative decrees” (primary level regulation) in defined areas, pursuant to the principles set by the law The “delegislation” (delegificazione) mechanism: Parliament authorizes Government to substitute primary laws with Governmental decrees (secondary level regulation) in two main sectors: administrative procedures and organization of public offices 5 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The Main Areas of Reform Devolution, outsourcing and “administrative federalism” Simplifying regulatory and administrative burdens Reorganization of Central Government The new Public Budgeting Civil Service Reform A more transparent and comprehensible Government A performance-oriented public sector management e-Government 6 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Devolution a leaner but more efficient State Horizontal subsidiarity - focusing Government on its core business: closing unnecessary Government activities outsourcing and/or privatizing activities that can be more efficiently undertaken by the private sector (business and non-profit organizations) liberalization of public utilities 7 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Devolution liberalization and privatization Liberalization. Three examples: 110 fixed telecommunication licenses and 86 operators instead of Telecom Italia monopoly unbundling of local loop from end 2000 ENEL control of electricity market: from 90% in 1990 to less than 40% in 2003 Privatization of public utilities: ENI, BNL, INA, ENEL, Telecom, Alitalia, Autostrade … world largest privatization program (total revenue up to end 1999: approx. 87 billions US Dollars) 8 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Devolution revenues from privatization in OECD countries (1993 - 1998) Millions US Dollars 70.000 60.000 50.000 40.000 France (F) 48.530 Germany (G) 15.392 Italy (I) 63.473 Spain (S) 34.441 Un. King. (UK) 28.709 30.000 Japan (J) 46.721 USA (US) 3.100 Canada (C) 7.024 20.000 10.000 Australia (AUS) 45.000 0 F Source: OECD D I E UK J US 9 C AUS F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Devolution total stock mkt cap/GDP The privatization program has contributed fostering the growth of the Italian equity market 77 80 66,4 70 60 45,7 50 40 30,8 30 17,9 20 11,5 18,4 20,6 15,1 10 2000 (feb.) 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 0 1992 10 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Devolution strengthening local Governments Strengthening stability of local Governments direct election of Majors (since 1993), Presidents of Provinces (1993), Presidents of Regions (2000) Strengthening financial autonomy of local Governments: the “fiscal federalism” transformation of State financial transfers to Local Authorities into local taxation or participation in main State taxes (VAT, Income tax…) Strengthening sovereignty of Local Governments transferring general legislative powers to Regions (constitutional bill presented by the Government) Strengthening efficiency of Local Administrations reform of control mechanisms, “city managers”, local public managers chosen also from private sector, salaries linked to performance 11 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Devolution the “administrative federalism” 1997: law n. 59 identifies a mandatory list of State tasks and plans the devolution of all other tasks to Regions, Provinces and Municipalities 1997-1998: five “legislative decrees” identify in detail the tasks to be transferred from central to local Government 1999-2000: Prime Minister decrees transfer groups of tasks together with related human and financial resources January 1st, 2001: end of devolution process 12 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Devolution opinions of the public Has the “Bassanini reform” improved the efficiency of local Governments? Doesn't know 7,3 Yes 36,1 No 24,9 Yes, in part 31,7 13 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Reorganization of Central Government the general strategy The first government-wide Reform since 1865: a system up to now grown only by “adding layers” Merging bodies with similar missions; eliminating duplication and segmentation Functions assigned by law; internal organization established by a more flexible secondary regulation. End of the traditional “pyramid model” for Ministries Reducing the Ministries from 22 (in 1995) to 18 (present) to 12 (in April 2001) Introducing “Agencies”: non-ministerial bodies with technical and executive tasks “Central Government Local Offices”: merging several State local offices into a single “interministerial” body 14 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Reorganization of Central Government reform of the Prime Minister’s Office Making the role of stimulating, guiding and coordinating more effective A leaner but stronger, more flexible structure Additional specific responsibilities of P.M.O.: Government reform, regulation, P.A., dialogue with supra- and intra- national Authorities (EU, Regions, Municipalities) Transferring all other executive tasks to “sector” administrations 15 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Reorganization of Central Government from 18 to 12 Ministries 1 – Ministry of Foreign Affairs 2 – Ministry of the Interior 3 – Ministry of Justice 4 – Ministry of Defense 5 – Ministry of Economy - Ministry of the Treasury and Budget and Finance - Ministry of Finance 6 – Ministry for Production Activities - Ministry of Industry, Trade and Crafts - Ministry of Foreign Trade - Ministry of Communications - P.M.O. Tourism Dept. 7 – Ministry of Agriculture 16 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Reorganization of Central Government from 18 to 12 Ministries 8 – Ministry of the Environment and Protection of the Territory - Ministry of Environment - Ministry of Public Works (part) - P.M.O. “Servizi Tecnici” Dept. 9 – Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport - Ministry of Public Works (part) - Ministry of Transport - P.M.O. Dept. for Urban Areas - Ministry of Employment and Social Security 10 - Ministry of Employment, - Ministry of Health Health and Social Policies - P.M.O. Dept. of Social Affairs 11 - Ministry of Education, Universities and Research - Ministry of Education - Ministry of Universities and Scientific Research 12 - Ministry of Heritage and Culture - Ministry of Heritage and Culture - P.M.O. Dept. of Sport - P.M.O. Dept. of Entertainment 17 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Civil Service Reform distinguishing Politics from Administration «Politicians are responsible for Policies»: Ministers define policies and strategies, assess results, appoint general directors but have no further direct involvement in administration «Public managers are responsible for Administration»: public managers are given broader powers but also greater responsibilities, and higher salaries linked to results and performance 18 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Civil Service Reform the “privatization” of Civil Service Civil law for civil servants public administration has the same powers as private sector employers Jurisdiction for civil service disputes since 1998 transferred from the Administrative to the Civil Courts 19 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Civil Service Reform the “contractualization” of Civil Service Labor Contracts: collective bargaining (at national and local levels) replaced the law in determining employment conditions, salaries and tasks. The “integrative negotiation” promoting efficiency and professionalism through individual integrative contracts «A.R.A.N.» an Agency created to represent the State in labor negotiations in place of the Minister (but following Government guidelines) Reform of labor representation for each public sector (Ministries, Education, Health …) bargaining with the State is allowed only to those Unions having more than 5% of the consensus in that sector 20 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Civil Service Reform the Resistances Strong contradictions and incoherencies remain in: The behaviour of Trade Unions: the choice, in principle, in favour of professionalism and merit, responsibility and decentralisation is sometimes contradicted The behaviour of Politicians, administrators and public managers: no global vision in salary increases strong defence of privileges and of the “maze of charges” Parliament choices: The choice, in principle, in favour of collective bargaining, meritocracy and quality is contradicted by the constant enactment of rules creating favouritism: “ope legis” promotions, permanent hiring without concours of pro-tempore workers etc. 21 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy A performance-oriented public administration the new approach Before: a formal/juridical approach to government: compliance with laws and procedures without regard to quality and results Now: a consumer-oriented approach quality service and customer satisfaction new performance control complementing traditional legal control public service charters promoting professional growth: a special training program Public administration “close to citizens and businesses”: favors the allocation of investment capital acquires relevance “beyond the national borders” partially sheds its authoritative nature 22 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy A performance-oriented public administration the new public management An interministerial body of public managers, with few exceptions Access by concours, a formal competitive examination (no more than 5% of managers may be chosen from outside the Civil Service for a fixed term) No more “jobs for life”: individual contracts (fixed term: 27 years) determine assignment, duties and salaries Managers’ salaries vary depending on responsibilities and performances 23 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy A performance-oriented public administration the Resistances Administrations and judges still show a legalistic and statist culture The defence of irremovability and irresponsibility of top civil servants in the name of administrative neutrality The fear of the spoils system (it exists in the USA, but not in Italy…) The refusal of the culture of evaluation and merit 24 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Simplification the problems Regulatory inflation: over 35,000 primary laws (of State and Regions) Regulatory costs: unnecessary burdens on the public, on businesses and even on public administrations Regulatory pollution: ambiguity, contradictions, overlapping, layers of rules generate uncertainty on the existing law 25 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Simplification a specific policy on regulatory reform Regulatory impact analysis to measure the cost of new regulations on the public and business A central “Regulatory Simplification Unit” a task force of 65 experts and staff in P.M.O., exclusively monitoring “regulatory quality”, drafting simplification decrees and consolidated texts Consultation the “Osservatorio per la semplificazione”: a consultative body with representatives from Ministries, Regions, Local Authorities and social parties 26 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Simplification the tools “Self-declarations” replace more than 95% of the certificates “Notification of the beginning of an activity” and silent consent (in 194 cases) replace authorizations and licenses One “conferenza di servizi” (combined services conference) replaces many administrative acts One-stop-shop (on line): a single procedure to start up a new productive plant, replacing 43 previously needed authorizations (see specific slide) Few consolidated texts replace thousands of laws and decrees Annual simplification laws enabling government to abolish or simplify existing procedures, authorizations and licenses. 27 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Simplification some initial results 180 procedures ruled by primary law have already been “delegislated” (ready to be abolished or simplified by Government decree) 71 procedures already simplified by Government (50% in the year 2000, with the support of the new central unit). They include the onestop-shops for: new productive plants, car drivers, import-export trade 8 consolidated texts drafted (on local Governments, cultural heritage, administrative documentation, building activities, expropriations, university, civil service, justice expenses); 3 of them already in force relevant progress in regulatory capacity shown by the draft report of the OECD regulatory review 28 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Progress in regulatory capacity indicators, 1998-2000 100 80 60 ITA-1998 ITA-2000 40 20 0 Transparency Use of Regulatory Impact Analysis Structured decision processes Index of review activity Communication of regulatory requirements Source: OECD, Public Management Directorate, 2000. 29 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Simplification # of certificates issued per year 70.000.000 70.641.741 60.000.000 50.000.000 51.661.396 40.000.000 30.000.000 30.658.516 20.000.000 10.000.000 0 1996 * Data 2000: 8-month projection of the year 2000 1998 Source: Italy – Department of Public Administration 2000 * 30 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Simplification # of certified signatures issued per year 40.000.000 38.871.110 35.000.000 30.000.000 25.000.000 20.000.000 20.199.919 15.000.000 10.000.000 7.116.993 5.000.000 0 1996 1998 2000 * Source: Italy – Department of Public Administration 31 * Data 2000: 8-month projection of the year 2000 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Simplification the opinion of the public Do you know that in most cases all you need is a self-declaration? Do you think it is useful? 8% 8% yes yes no no 92% 92% Source: ISPO 32 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Simplification – the one-stop-shop example “not only a single access, but also a single answer” Since 1999 a single procedure to start up a new business, replacing 43 authorizations previously needed Before: 2-5 years to get a final answer Now: normally no more than 3 months in most cases, max 11 months (average time: 57 days in a sample of 100 operational one stop shops) One single office to deal with businesses and a new role for Municipalities in the development of their territory An e-structure, accessible through the net 33 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The new public budgeting from financial to economic budget Before: a segmented spending model with more than 6.000 expenditure units Now: about 1.000 basic budget units, matching each Ministry’s target and responsibility Only one administrative office responsible for each basic unit New economic budget showing the link between the use of resources and achievements 34 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The new public budgeting new spending procedures Drafting the budget: no longer the traditional criteria of incremental spending An effective cost analysis to back the annual financing law and the spending legislation More effective constraints on Government expenditure bills and parliamentary amendments An electronic mandate Towards a permanent electronic market for public purchases Planning hiring of civil servants 35 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The new public budgeting public sector personnel cost (% of GDP) 13 12,8 12,7 12,5 12 11,5 12,7 12,5 12 11,6 11,5 11,4 11 10,8 10,7 10,5 10 10,5 10,2 9,8 9,5 9,5 9,1 19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 9 Source: OECD and Italy DPEF 2000-2003 36 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The new public budgeting 19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 public deficit (% of GDP) -12 -11,1 -10 -8 -6 -10,1 -9,6 -9,2 -8,5 -7,7 -6,6 -4 -2,8 -1,9 -2 -2,7 0 -1,3 -1 -0,7 0,2 1,3 2 Source: ISTAT and Italy DPEF 2000-2003 37 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The new public budgeting public debt (% of GDP) 129 125,3 124 124,9 124,6 122,4 119,1 119 118,7 114,9 114 112,1 109 108,7 106,6 103,5 104 99,7 101,5 99 98 95 19 90 19 91 19 92 19 93 19 94 19 95 19 96 19 97 19 98 19 99 20 00 20 01 20 02 20 03 20 04 94 Source: ISTAT and Italy DPEF 2000-2003 38 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The new public budgeting primary expenditure in Italy and EU (% of GDP) 45 45 44 44 43 43 42 42 41 41 40 40 39 39 38 38 37 37 Italy EU 1998 1990 Source: ISTAT and European Commission 39 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy e-Government IT: the best resource for a leap forward in quality change Electronic management of administrative documents, procedures and archives 12,000 billion liras (5,2 bill. USD) for investments in 20002002 (11,000 already allocated, 1,300 coming from the UMTS licenses) Electronic ID card (under experiment) The “Government Portal”: a single gateway for public administrations Towards electronic public procurements 40 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy e-Government some first results «Electronic Revenue Service»: 100% income tax returns (40 millions per year) are filed and reviewed electronically Land Register (80% of documents are filed and reviewed electronically) Electronic signature (having legal value from 1998): more than 1 million signatures already certified by 8 companies A Single Administrative Network 41 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The Italian Action Plan for e-Government Citizens will obtain any public service by simply applying to any front-office administration in charge Citizens will communicate variations in their personal information to the administration only once Each administration will be able to gather the information needed, wherever stored (all public services on line) All the public services for which it is technically possible will be delivered on line 42 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy Action Plan points Information portals Portals for supply of services National networks Local administrations on line Integration of personal data National index of personal data 43 Exchange of information system for local land-registries Electronic identity cards Promotion of digital signatures Informatic Protocols e-procurement Foundation courses Specialist courses F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The Future of Reform The crucial phase of implementation the Reform has almost been achieved in its laws and decrees, but laws alone cannot change citizens’ lives What are now the main challenges? 44 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The Future of Reform Changing the culture Acquiring and disseminating new approaches: to technological and organizational innovation to simplification (releasing unnecessary administrative burdens) to quality of service and performance to citizen-user satisfaction to rewarding professionalism and merit to promoting, encouraging and energizing citizens and businesses 45 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The Future of Reform Communication disseminating and sharing information to explain to citizens their new rights 46 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The Future of Reform Investing on Public Administration in training, to improve knowledge and awareness of the main interpreters of the Reform in IT, to exploit the enormous opportunities of digital revolution in financial incentives, to promote quality of services and professional growth 47 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy The Future of Reform The «Maastricht approach» EURO example: Italy is a country capable of finding hidden human resources to face the most difficult tasks 48 F. Bassanini - Government Reform in Italy