Preparation of government sessions and openness of decision making

Clear rules and procedures are in place to guide the preparation of government sessions

Clear rules and procedures include stipulating deadlines and the roles and responsibilities of the bodies involved. Review of legislation that covers the mandates of the CoG with respect to quality control and the gatekeeper function for the preparation of government sessions, including their mandate/authority to comment and return items to ministries that do not comply with requirements, as well as co-ordination of dispute resolution procedures.

A CoG body has the authority for quality control regarding the submission of materials for adoption at government sessions

Review of legislation to verify that the CoG body has the authority to review, comment and return items to ministries if the submitted package is incomplete and/or do not comply with the procedural and quality requirements and standards. Review of legislation that covers the mandates of the CoG with respect to quality control and the gatekeeper function for the preparation of government sessions, including their mandate/authority to comment and return items to ministries that do not comply with requirements and co-ordination of dispute resolution procedures, as well as if the substance requires further improvement and/or is inconsistent with the government priorities.

The agendas of government sessions are made publicly available online prior to the session

The administration provides evidence that government session agendas are available before the session on the government’s website for the most recent government sessions. Checks will be carried out to verify the practice by accessing the website and checking the information and documents available for the most recent government sessions.

Submission of draft laws for approval at government sessions is timely enough to allow all participants to review material

The administration provides evidence that the full package of materials for draft laws for approval at the government session was available for participants at least three days before the meeting for all draft laws submitted to government sessions during the last quarter of 2023. Interviews with government officials and experts will be used to verify and confirm the practice. In case of finding any inconsistency or irregularity in sharing full information in advance of the meetings no points will be allocated.

Records of all decisions agreed upon at the government sessions (minutes) are kept and distributed after sessions to all participants and those required to act on decisions

Review of government decision-making documents is used to verify that the minutes of formal government sessions are kept and distributed to all participants and to those required to act on decisions (with the exception of sensitive/classified information). Interviews are used to confirm that the government routinely circulates minutes or made them available to participants and those concerned by decisions after all government sessions.

Government decisions are made publicly available online

Review of the government website to verify that the decisions and conclusions of the government sessions are publicly available. Checks are carried out on the latest three government sessions to verify that all decisions made during those sessions were eventually published and available online. Interviews are used to confirm that the government publishes all decisions after the government sessions. In case of any inconsistency found, no points are allocated.

Key decisions adopted by the government are publicly communicated after each session

Review of government decision-making documents and government website is used to verify that the government communicates with the public on key government decisions taken at each session (with the exception of sensitive/classified information). The review confirms that the government regularly communicated the outcomes of government sessions after the meetings. Different channels of communication can be used like a press conference or publishing information on the website.