Parliamentary Caravan for Citizens (MK0202)

Brief description of the commitment

The Assembly holds open days regularly and organizes visits to the building for citizens. This contributes to the process of improving the image of the institution and gradually builds the perception that the Assembly is open and transparent. However, some citizens for various reasons, weather, practical or economic, cannot travel to Skopje and visit the Assembly building. By organizing the proposed caravan, the institutional and civil partners will make the Assembly "mobile".

Defining a problem

1. What problem does the commitment address?

The main goals of the caravan are to present the Assembly as an open, responsible and transparent institution, as well as to bring it closer to those citizens who are unable to visit the building. Some of the key goals will be: • educational: adults, youth and children as well will hear information about the legislative, supervisory and other processes • promotional: meeting rooms for the caravan will be the contact offices of the MPs in order for them to be more visible to the citizens • informational: visitors to the caravan will get to know transparency initiatives, such as the new website of the Assembly, the TV studio and channel, the Parliamentary Institute, etc. • increasing visibility: the caravan will also be an opportunity to further promote the transparency and supervisory roles of the Assembly • The “Mobile Parliamentary Caravan" is projected as a wider communication campaign and in order to maximize its visibility and reach to citizens, it will require a slogan (key message) and a visual identity • The visual identity will be developed at a later stage of the preparation process, while at this point, it is crucial to define the key message of the campaign that will also serve as the slogan of the caravan and will be conveyed in all supporting elements • Specifically, it is suggested that the slogan be simple, clear and effective, similar to the Campaign slogan "Independent Assembly" - and to link some parts of the key messages from those activities so that there is continuity • The proposed slogan/key message for the "Mobile Parliamentary Caravan" is: „Parliament for citizens" is a very simple and clear message that everyone understands • With it, the idea is to underline that the Assembly exists for the citizens, to represent their needs, to engage in a democratic debate with them in order to draft legal solutions that will improve life both in the short and long term. • The subtitle "Open and responsible" (Open and responsible) will inform that the Assembly is open (as well as transparent) and that it is responsible as an institution towards the citizens. • Using 'responsible' (responsible), it will link to the subtitle of the Independent Assembly campaign which was titled 'For Representative and Responsible Governance'

2. What are the reasons for the problem?

The legislature, like the parliaments of the world, and the Assembly are public in their work and exposed to the opinion and insight of the public daily, at least as far as the legislative agenda is concerned. Because of that, the perceptions of the citizens are mainly related to the public events of the MPs, the proposed legal solutions, the debate and the arguments conducted, etc. In general, MPs work in Skopje, although they come from 8 electoral units and from many municipalities in the country. If we take into account the engagement with committees and plenary sessions and the work in Skopje, only Friday of the entire week is allocated for contact with those who voted for these MPs so that they can exchange ideas and hear the needs of the citizens. The commitment as projected will add more time for this direct communication with citizens

Description of the commitment

1. What has been done so far for the problem to be solved?

The parliamentary caravan in an experimental form was implemented in 2022, as part of the PSP program in cooperation with NDI. In order for the activity to be implemented more than once, and for the sake of the interest of the MPs and the citizens, the proposed commitment is trying to establish it as a regular activity with a defined work curriculum.

2. What solution are you proposing?

Parliamentary caravan will be held in all cities where there is an office for contact with the citizens of the MPs. To each of these points, an Assembly van with employees from the Parliamentary Institute and the Assembly Service and/or MPs will travel carrying the equipment needed to set up the "Mobile Parliament" point - depending on the locations, or the MP's offices will be used directly or the space in front of or very close to them. The van will carry a set of: • a branded banner and a speaking stand • small stage audio and video settings (PA, microphones, TV for presentation) • foldable chairs (maximum 20) • promotional printed materials of the Parliamentary Institute With regards to the content, in any moment, the duration of the entire meeting will be around 60 minutes and it will include: • meeting minutes from a moderator • address of the local MP • educational presentation on the processes in the Assembly by a JU Representative • presentation on the activities related to transparency (web page, TV studio, safety) • moderated Question-and-Answer session

3. What results do we want to achieve by implementing this commitment?

With the implementation of this commitment, the presence of MPs in their electoral municipalities will be ensured, they will promote their work and that of the Assembly, they will hear the impressions of citizens from their work and problems that require a legislative initiative, clarification of the competences of the MP against questions and problems which are under the jurisdiction of the executive authority or the local self-government.

Analysis of the commitment

1.How will the commitment promote transparency?

The direct access to the citizens will show transparency by implementing this commitment. With the presence of MPs, assistants in their offices for contact with citizens, a greater visibility of the system for the needs of citizens is enabled.

2.How will the commitment help to encourage responsibility? How will it help public institutions to become more accountable to the public? How will it facilitate the opportunity for citizens to get to know how the implementation is progressing? How will it support transparent monitoring and evaluation systems?

Direct exposure of citizens' thoughts, ideas and criticism increases the responsibility of MPs for what they do before those who elected them.

3.How will the commitment improve the citizens’ participation in defining, implementing, and monitoring of the solutions? How will it proactively involve the citizens and the citizen groups?

The implementation of the commitment will produce a complete description in the form of a report of all remarks and ideas by the citizens.

Planning the commitment (Milestones | Expected outputs | Expected Completion date)

Making a coordination decision for the implementation of the activity Informing all parliamentary groups and MPs Organization of a working group from the Parliamentary Institute and the Assembly service for the implementation of the events Defining agendas, time frame, resources | In the proposed plan, depending on the obligations for the election year, an indicator is placed once a year (minimum two and maximum 3 events)