Reorganization of Inspectorate Bodies and Strategic Alliance Development Against Corruption (GR0024)

The commitment consists of two main parts: The first one refers to the development of a strategic alliance with inspectorate and anti-corruption bodies and authorities, and the second one addresses the reorganization of inspectorate bodies.
Under the framework of the e-government strategy, a comprehensive study will be conducted regarding the development of strategic alliance with inspectorate and anti-corruption bodies and authorities. Among other areas of interest, the study will also include identification of: main inspectorate and anti- corruption bodies and authorities; co-operation opportunities with public administration entities; areas, models and ways of cooperation; public administration units that could participate in this strategic alliance, prerequisites and conditions for cooperation; proposals on the ways of implementing strategic alliances in practice; expected results, possible problems and risks/ways to address them; infrastructure and legal framework required.
Within their role, inspectorate bodies detect possible weaknesses in public administration and identify areas where efficiency could be improved. The empowerment of those bodies is highlighted as a priority and could be achieved through mapping the current situation, identifying areas of improvements και undertaking targeted actions to facilitate their ongoing work. The ultimate goal is to ensure optimal coordination of actions and enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of the public administration.

Commitment 3.4. Strategic alliance against corruption

Commitment Text:

The commitment consists of two main parts: The first one refers to the development of a strategic alliance with inspectorate and anti-corruption bodies and authorities, and the second one addresses the reorganization of inspectorate bodies.

Under the framework of the e-government strategy, a comprehensive study will be conducted regarding the development of strategic alliance with inspectorate and anti-corruption bodies and authorities. Among other areas of interest, the study will also include identification of: main inspectorate and anti-corruption bodies and authorities; co-operation opportunities with public administration entities; areas, models and ways of cooperation; public administration units that could participate in this strategic alliance, prerequisites and conditions for cooperation; proposals on the ways of implementing strategic alliances in practice; expected results, possible problems and risks/ways to address them; infrastructure and legal framework required.

Within their role, inspectorate bodies detect possible weaknesses in public administration and identify areas where efficiency could be improved. The empowerment of those bodies is highlighted as a priority and could be achieved through mapping the current situation, identifying areas of improvements and undertaking targeted actions to facilitate their ongoing work. The ultimate goal is to ensure optimal coordination of actions and enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and accountability of the public administration.

Milestones

3.4.1. Study on inspectorate bodies

3.4.2. Study on strategic alliance

Responsible institution: Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction

Supporting institution(s): None

Start date: July 2014              End date: September 2015

Commitment Aim:

The commitment stems from existing anti-corruption governmental measures and consists of two main parts: The first refers to the development of a strategic alliance with inspectorate and anti-corruption bodies and authorities. The second addresses the reorganization of inspectorate bodies. Both milestones for this commitment refer to the production of studies:

●      3.4.1 Study on reorganizing and empowering interspectorate bodies (ending June 2015), and

●      3.4.2 Study on the development of strategic alliance with interspectorate and anti- corruption bodies and authorities (ending December 2015).

Status

Midterm: Limited

The Greek Government had not completed the first milestone on producing a study for reorganizing inspectorates by the midterm review. Progress was also limited on the second milestone for the alliance against corruption. Nevertheless, cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction and relevant inspectorate and anticorruption bodies had taken place on an ad hoc basis in the context of the YourDataStories project implementation. In this case, the government was implementing this commitment via a pilot scenario in the YourDataStories project. The ad hoc cooperation on this predominant policy area and its dependence on an international multi-stakeholder project delayed implementation.

End of term: Limited

During discussions held between the Openwise IRM research team and members of the interministerial OGP government team, there was no further evidence of progress on this commitment. Based on midterm findings that the government had substituted the 3.4.1 milestone with the European project “YourDataStories”, the Openwise IRM research team found the commitment to publish studies incomplete and the replacement project was irrelevant to achieving the milestones of this commitment. ^{[Note 27: More information regarding the use cases can be found at "Use Cases - The research scenarios we are using," YDS, http://yourdatastories.eu/about-your-data-stories/use-cases/.]}

Did it open government?

Did not change

Corruption is a predominant issue in Greece. However, this commitment focused on producing studies rather than specific, relevant and time-bound actions. Additionally, the implementation of this anticorruption commitment is not located under the proper government agency. According to the commitment, the responsible agency is the Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reconstruction. A better choice would have been the Ministry of Justice, which has the authority on anticorruption policy. This is the reason why the YourDataStories milestone failed to engage the relevant policy issues and the overall impact of this commitment did not change the status quo.

Carried forward?

For the first time, the third Greek action plan will include commitments by the Ministry of Justice, although none address fighting corruption. Therefore, the Openwise IRM research team suggested the government prioritize areas in their anticorruption strategy, set up a primary goal for each area, and design specific interventions for the next action plan. Possible intervention areas include hospitals and other public procurement expenses, recently identified by an EU Commission report as the most pressing, in addition to driving license bribes and undeclared labour.