2015 – Page 10 – Institute Alternative

12. 10. 2015.11. 01. 2018.

Montenegrin public opinion on Public Procurement

Compared to 2012, when Ipsos Strategic Marketing has conducted the same research for the Institute Alternative, now have been registered considerably more citizens who point out that public procurement serve to enrich individuals and legalize corruption. At the same time, compared to the previous period, a higher percentage of citizens believe that the Government of Montenegro is obligated to act in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement, while the percentage of those who find the state authorities and institutions accountable in this process decreases.

As in the previous period, the citizens of Montenegro point out to a large degree that the public procurement process takes place under political influence. So, every other citizen of Montenegro (49%) points out that the public procurement process takes place in accordance with party interests – a significant increase compared to 2012 (34%). Also, compared to the previous period, the percentage of citizens who consider that the public procurement process does not occur impartially and in accordance with objective criteria is increasing, whilst the percentage of those who stated that the public procurement process is transparent and carried out in accordance with the Law is reducing.

More than a half of citizens are dissatisfied with the control of public procurement in Montenegro (59%) and the percentage of citizens who said that they are not satisfied at all is significantly higher compared to 2012. A higher level of dissatisfaction with public procurement have expressed citizens aged between 45 and 50 years old and Serbian nationality, while a higher degree of satisfaction expressed citizens aged between 18 and 29 years and the Montenegrin and Albanian nationality.

Especially when it comes to the Montenegrin citizens employed in the public sector, more than half of them also expressed dissatisfaction with the control of public procurement (57% of employees in the public sector). The percentage of people who said they are not satisfied with the control of public procurement is also higher compared to 2012.

Over two-thirds of Montenegrin citizens emphasizes that it is necessary to involve NGOs in work of the competent authorities for control of public procurement, and the percentage of those who believe that NGO representatives should become full-fledged members of these institutions has increased compared to 2012, as among members of the general population and among citizens who are employed in the public sector.

Most citizens of Montenegro stated that the media do not pay enough attention to the importance of combating fraud and abuse of public procurement, and the percentage of those who hold the same position has significantly increased compared to the previous period.

Presentation of the results of the public opinion survey can be downloaded here.

Public opinion survey on perception of citizens on public procurement was conducted in the period from July 8 – 17, 2015 within the project Civil Society and Citizens against Corruption in Public procurement, which is implemented by the Institute alternative with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands. The project activities are aimed at strengthening cooperation between state and non-state actors in recognising irregularities in public procurement procedures and formulation of recommendations for improvement.

09. 10. 2015.05. 03. 2018.

Towards better utilities in Capital Podgorica and Municipality of Berane

Field research on the provision of water supply, waste disposal and parking service in Municipality of Berane and Capital Podgorica was conducted in order to contribute to a regional study on the protection of consumers’ rights in relation to utility service providers.

In the period from 5 to 9 October, Institute alternative has organised meetings with representatives of the Capital Podgorica and the Municipality of Berane, in charge for providing the quality of municipal services in the area of water supply, waste disposal and parking.

Meetings were organised within the project “Strengthening consumer organisations for better Municipal services in South East Europe”, which Institute Alternative is conducting with partners from Serbia and Macedonia within TEN (Think for Europe) network and in cooperation with consumer organizations from the region.

Besides the IA representatives, meetings with local government representatives and head people from utility companies were also attended by Zvezdan Čađenović, a national expert on this project, as well as the representative of the Center for Consumer Protection – CEZAP.

Representatives of local government and utility companies have pointed to the existing legislative framework in the field of utilities, as well as the challenges in the implementation of this framework in terms of protection of consumer rights.

Two focus groups with consumers, organised in the Capital Podgorica and Municipality of Berane in the same period, with the support of CEZAP, were also very significant.

The project “Strengthening consumer organisations for better Municipal services in South East Europe”, besides this research component, foresees the establishment of CONWeb network that would bring together national consumer organizations of the Western Balkans, in order to strengthen their capacities and mutual cooperation in the field of consumer protection.

The project is financially supported by the German Agency for Technical Cooperation-GIZ.

08. 10. 2015.05. 03. 2018.

IA representative in the Working group for preparing an analysis of the Law on Free Access to Information

Representative of the Institute Alternative is participating in the Working Group tasked with developing the analysis of the Law on Free Access to Information. Preparation of analysis is the obligations under the Action Plan for Chapter 23 – Judiciary and Fundamental Rights, and the holder of this measure is the Agency for protection of personal data and free access to information.

Bearing in mind that the Law is one of the most important instruments for the work of NGOs, and also an important citizens’ right, we aim to contribute to solving the problems that arise in practice and help easier and faster access to information in possession of public authorities.

On the session of the Council from 2 September 2015, the Agency has adopted a decision on forming a Working Group, and has invited the interested public to submit suggestions and the problems they faced regarding this Law to the email address: azlp@t-com.me until 8 November this year.

All proposals will be discussed at the meetings of the Working Group and applicants will be informed in writing within five days from the consideration of the proposal at the meeting of the Working Group whether the proposal is accepted or not accepted, stating the reasons for the rejection.

Call for submitting proposals can be found here. (in Montenegrin only)

VIDEO: Panelists’ speeches at the panel discussion “Good Governance and SEE 2020 Strategy”

The speeches from the panel discussion “Good Governance and South East Europe 2020 Strategy” can be found in the videos below.

Panel discussion is organized within the project “Governance for Growth – It Depends On Us!” which is being implemented by Institute alternative with funding by the Regional Cooperation Council under implementation of RCC’s South East Europe 2020 Strategy.

29. 09. 2015.10. 01. 2018.

The Implementation of the SEE 2020 Strategy: Citizens in focus

According to the regional public survey, 82% citizens in Balkans think that the laws are not being applied to all population equally, it was pointed out at the panel discussion “Good Governance and South East Europe 2020 Strategy”.

The discussion was held today in Podgorica, within the project “Governance for Montenegro’s Growth: It Depends On Us”, which is being implemented by the Institute alternative with the financial support of the Regional Cooperation Council under implementation of SEE 2020 Strategy.

Stevo Muk, president of the Managing board of IA has reminded that this regional strategy was modeled after the European Union 2020 Strategy. Its key objectives are related to the improvement of the living standard, establishment of the balance of trade, job creation and trade promotion.

“In order to achieve the main objectives of the Strategy, the public administration reform and the efficient service are among the key preconditions. In that light “Governance for Growth” has been presented horizontally as a cross-cutting issue of this strategic document carrying the message that the economic growth depends on the good governance of our institutions and the extent of the enforcement of the rule of law“, Muk pointed out.

Participants of the event have emphasised that it is crucial to harmonise the objectives of the Public Administration Reform Strategy, which is currently being developed, with the objectives of the SEE 220 Strategy.

Dragana Ranitović, Director-General in the Ministry of Interior said that the Ministry will support all regional initiative which are aiming to establish professional and efficient public administration.

Saša Šćekić, Deputy Secretary General at the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro has pointed out the challenges of the service delivery on the local level as well as to the local government reform.

“The problems are reflected in the lack of trust of citizens in local government, and in that sense, reliability and predictability are key functions that need to be ensured through the development of national and local government,” he said.

Nand Shani, from the Regional School of Public Administration (ReSPA) has pinpointed the responsibility of each national administration for the implementation of the SEE 2020 Strategy, since the Government are the subject who have taken the obligation to achieve the defined goals.

Therefore, only if the objectives of the Strategy are deeply rooted in the national activities, they can be achieved – Shani emphasised.

He has also reminded the participants of the results of public survey “Balkan Barometer” which has showed that 74% citizens in the countries of Western Balkans think that the law are not being applied efficiently, while the 82% of them consider that equality before the law does not exist.

Furthermore, more that 50% citizens consider administrative procedures as inefficient.

One of the panelists was Milena Garthley, the representative of NALAS, Network of Associations of Local Authorities of South-East Europe, who said that the regulations required for accession to the European Union are mostly being applied at the local level, and that the units of local government are closest to the citizens.

“The true question is whether there is enough capacity in the local governments to use EU funds for the best purposes possible” she warned.

IA’s partners within TEN (Think for Europe Network) – Aleksandar Petar Jovanoski, representative of the European Policy Institute from Skopje and Dušan Protić on behalf of the European Policy Centre from Belgrade have also participated at our panel discussion.

Referring to the good governance challenges and the implementation of the SEE 2020 Strategy in his country, Jovanoski said that the political will and the financial means are the key elements for the implementation of the Strategy on the national level.

“At the moment, none of the preconditions are fulfilled”, he added.

Dušan Protić has pointed out the paradigm shift brought by the SEE 2020 Strategy.

“I think the success of the Strategy is precisely that – it focuses on the economic aspects of growth and development, which is often in the process of EU integration of secondary importance in the shadow of the institutional and legal reform,” said Protić.

The key message of the event was that, in the light of the “Governance for Growth”, the all-pervading pillar of the SEE 2020 Strategy, public policies which have the citizens in their focus should be the priority, such as establishing the system for the more efficient resolving of citizens’ complaints and the introduction of the instruments for the quality management in the public administration.

Panel discussion is organized within the project “Governance for Growth – It Depends On Us!” which is being implemented by Institute alternative with funding by the Regional Cooperation Council under implementation of RCC’s South East Europe 2020 Strategy. The views expressed during the event can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the Regional Cooperation Council.

25. 09. 2015.12. 01. 2018.

Announcement: Panel discussion “Good Governance and South East Europe 2020 Strategy”

Institute alternative organizes a panel discussion “Good Governance and South East Europe 2020 Strategy” with the support of Regional Cooperation Council. The event will be held on Tuesday, September 29th, starting at 11 am, in the hotel “Ramada” (Lesendro hall). The objective of the project is to contribute to the enhancement and promotion of the SEE 2020 Strategy, particularly of the “Governance for Growth”, which is a precondition for the fulfillment of aims set by remaining four pillars of the Strategy.

The panel discussion will be opened by the introductory remarks of:

Stevo Muk, President of the Managing board of Institute alternative
Dragana Ranitović, Director-General, Ministry of Interior
Saša Šćekić, Deputy Secretary-General, Union of Municipalities

The speakers of the panel will be:

Nand Shani, Programme Manager, Regional School for Public Administration (ReSPA)
Milena Garthley, Programme Officer, The Network of Associations of Local Authorities in South-East Europe (NALAS)
Aleksandar Jovanoski, Programme Coordinator, European Policy Institute, Skopje
Dušan Protić, Programme Manager, European Policy Centre, Belgrade

The moderator of the discussion will be Milena Milošević, public policy researcher at Institute alternative.

Panel discussion is organized within the project “Governance for Growth – It Depends On Us!” which is being implemented by Institute alternative with funding by the Regional Cooperation Council under implementation of RCC’s South East Europe 2020 Strategy.