Electronic Public Records (OEP) – (Offentlig Elektronisk Postjournal) (NO0039)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Norway Action Plan 2013-2015
Action Plan Cycle: 2013
Status: Inactive
Institutions
Lead Institution: Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (Difi)
Support Institution(s): NA
Policy Areas
E-Government, Records Management, Right to InformationIRM Review
IRM Report: Norway End-of-Term Report 2014-2015
Starred: No
Early Results: Did Not Change
Design i
Verifiable: No
Relevant to OGP Values: Access to Information
Implementation i
Description
OEP is part of the Norwegian Government’s effort to promote transparency and
democracy within the public sector. OEP aims to make the Norwegian public sector
more open and accessible to citizens. OEP is tightly connected with the Freedom of
Information Act and its foundation is regulations related to the act.
Electronic Public Records (OEP) is a collaborative tool which central government
agencies use to publicize their public records online. Public record data are stored in
one searchable database. Users can search this database to locate case documents
relevant to their field of interest. Having located relevant case documents, users may
submit requests to view these. Requests are sent to the respective agencies responsible
for the case documents and public record entries. The agencies themselves then
process requests sent to them via OEP, and reply to users directly.
The OEP software has been developed on the basis of open source code, mainly based
on free software, and is therefore available to other levels of governments as well as
public and private institutions for re-use free of charge and without restrictions. The
solution is intended to be accessible to all kinds of user groups. It has been developed
in keeping with universal design principles and web development standards
IRM End of Term Status Summary
4. Electronic Public Record (OEP) - (Offentlig elektronisk postjournal)
Commitment Text:
[…]
Electronic Public Records (OEP) is a collaborative tool which central government agencies use to publicize their public records online. Public record data are stored in one searchable database. Users can search this database to locate case documents relevant to their field of interest. Having located relevant case documents, users may submit requests to view these. Requests are sent to the respective agencies responsible for the case documents and public record entries. The agencies themselves then process requests sent to them via OEP, and reply to users directly. […]
COMMITMENT DESCRIPTION
The OEP software has been developed on the basis of open source code, mainly based on free software, and is therefore available to other levels of governments as well as public and private institutions for re-use free of charge and without restrictions. The solution is intended to be accessible to all kinds of user groups. It has been developed in keeping with universal design principles and web development standards.
KEY IMPACT BENCHMARK
On request, Norway will share its experiences of OEP and the source code with other countries.
Responsible institution: Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (Difi)
Supporting institution(s): None
Start date: Ongoing End date: Ongoing
Editorial note: The text of the commitments was abridged for formatting reasons. For the full text of the commitment, please see http://bit.ly/1QlVIja.
Policy Aim
The Electronic Public Record (OEP) - (Offentlig elektronisk postjournal) is a mechanism through which all public records and communications of public officials are archived and made available to citizens.[Note 26: “Om OEP,” Agency for Public Management and eGovernment (Difi), accessed September 4, 2016, https://www.oep.no/content/om-oep.] The mechanism is explicitly developed and implemented in an effort to promote openness and democratic principles in the Norwegian governance context and forms a central place in the Norwegian access to information regime, together with the Freedom of Information Act.[Note 27: Ibid. ] All government agencies that maintain electronic journals are mandated to participate in the mechanism; there are currently 122 agencies participating.[Note 28: Ibid. ] This commitment aims to share Norwegian experiences in developing and implementing the OEP with international peers.
Status
Mid-term: Complete
This commitment was complete at the midterm and included participation in national and international conferences to share Norwegian experiences with OEP. Events included:
• Parliaments in the Open Government Era (UiO/University Paris, Sorbonne)
• Informasjonsforvaltning 2014, Foreningen for arkiv og informasjonsforvaltning (Sweden)
• Tools for Improving Efficiency and Performance in the Public Sector (Germany)
• LAPSI 2.0 (The European Thematic Network on Legal Aspects of Public Sector Information).
Did it open government?
Access to information: Did not change
Though it is not widely known among everyday citizens, journalists and civil society actors familiar with the OEP describe it as important for access to information, functional, and user friendly. Despite the strength of the OEP as a mechanism, the IRM researcher understands this commitment to be developed and implemented in relation to the sharing of OEP experiences internationally, which does not have a clear impact on government openness or access to information in Norway. Civil society representatives have suggested two ways in which the OEP could be strengthened: 1) stricter definitions and sanctions for what type of information must be logged in publically accessible journals, and 2) mapping the archives of what kinds of information are available.[Note 29: Nils Øy and Siri Gedde-Dahl, interview by Christopher Wilson, in-person meeting, Offices of the Norwegian Association of the Press, September 1, 2016.
Guro Slettemark, interview by Christopher Wilson, in-person meeting, Offices of the International Law and Policy Institute March, September 16, 2016.]
Carried forward?
This commitment has been carried forward in the Norwegian government’s third national action plan, under the following commitment heading: “Develop a new system solution for OEP to improve the security in OEP, streamline work processes in the public administration, and streamline the transparency work: A new solution with better capacity to accommodate larger amounts of data and with a new technical solution that will provide enhanced search features and improved user experiences.”
The action plan is available on the OGP website.[Note 30: ”Norway’s third action plan Open Government Partnership (OGP),” Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, accessed September 4, 2016, http://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2001/01/Norway_2016-17_NAP.pdf.]
Commitments
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Archiving Documents
NO0054, 2019, Capacity Building
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Making Energy Statistics Available
NO0055, 2019, E-Government
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e-Access and Expansion
NO0056, 2019, Civic Space
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Open Cultural Data
NO0057, 2019, E-Government
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Digital Spatial Planning
NO0058, 2019, E-Government
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Streamline Public Procurement
NO0059, 2019, E-Government
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Preventing Corruption
NO0060, 2019, Anti-Corruption Institutions
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Beneficial Ownership Registry
NO0061, 2019, Beneficial Ownership
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User Orientation
NO0045, 2016, Capacity Building
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Electronic Public Records (OEP)
NO0046, 2016, E-Government
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Transparency Regarding Environmental Information
NO0047, 2016, E-Government
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Disclosure of Financial Data
NO0048, 2016, E-Government
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Transparency Regarding Rainforest Funds
NO0049, 2016, E-Government
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State Employees’ Ownership of Shares
NO0050, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions
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Promote Freedom of Expression and Independent Media
NO0051, 2016, Civic Space
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Country-By-Country Reporting
NO0052, 2016, Extractive Industries
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Register for Ultimate Beneficial Ownership
NO0053, 2016, Anti-Corruption Institutions
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Public Review and Public Consultation
NO0020, 2013, Capacity Building
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Registering and Preserving Digital Documentation Produced by Public Bodies
NO0021, 2013, E-Government
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The Norwegian Citizen Survey (Innbyggerundersøkelsen)
NO0022, 2013, Public Participation
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Whistleblowing
NO0023, 2013, Whistleblower Protections
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Strengthened Information Exchange for More Efficient Crime Prevention and Combating
NO0024, 2013, Justice
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Strengthening the Transparency of Public Authorities and Administration
NO0025, 2013, Capacity Building
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Egovernment with an End-User Focus
NO0026, 2013, E-Government
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Plain Legal Language
NO0027, 2013, Capacity Building
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Norwegian Grants Portal (MFA)
NO0028, 2013, Aid
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An International Convention or Agreement on Financial Transparency
NO0029, 2013, Private Sector
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Reducing Conflicts of Interests – Post-Employment Regulations
NO0030, 2013, Conflicts of Interest
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Centre for Integrity in the Defence Sector
NO0031, 2013, Security
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A Better Overview of Committees, Boards and Councils – More Public Access to Information and Better Opportunities for Further Use
NO0032, 2013, E-Government
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Modernizing Public Governance
NO0033, 2013, Capacity Building
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues
NO0034, 2013, Extractive Industries
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Transparency in the Management of the Government Pension Fund (GPF)
NO0035, 2013, E-Government
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Transparency and Anti-Corruption Efforts
NO0036, 2013, Anti-Corruption Institutions
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The Municipal Sector
NO0037, 2013, Education
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“Simplify” (“Enkelt Og Greit”)
NO0038, 2013, E-Government
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Electronic Public Records (OEP) – (Offentlig Elektronisk Postjournal)
NO0039, 2013, E-Government
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Re-Use of Public Sector Information (PSI)
NO0040, 2013, Capacity Building
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Access to Health Data
NO0041, 2013, E-Government
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Renewal of the Government’S Website (Regjeringen.No – Government.No)
NO0042, 2013, E-Government
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Declaration of Principles for Interaction and Dialogue with NGOs
NO0043, 2013, Capacity Building
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Simplification and Digital Administration of Arrangements for NGOs
NO0044, 2013, Capacity Building
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0001, 2011, Capacity Building
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Measures to Promote Gender Equality and Women’S Full Participation in Civic Life, the Private Sector, the Public Administration and Political Processes.
NO0002, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Participation in the Private Sector
NO0003, 2011, Gender
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Increase Women's Representation in Local Government
NO0004, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality Program
NO0005, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Inclusion of Immigrant Women
NO0006, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Combat Gender Stereotypes
NO0007, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Youth Initiatives
NO0008, 2011, Gender
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Gender Equality – Combat Domestic Violence
NO0009, 2011, Gender
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency
NO0010, 2011, Aid
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Government Global Pension Fund
NO0011, 2011, Fiscal Transparency
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Combat Tax Evasion
NO0012, 2011, Fiscal Transparency
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Transparency in the Management of Oil and Gas Revenues / Financial Transparency – Multi-National Companies
NO0013, 2011, Fiscal Transparency
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Create Central Communication Policy
NO0014, 2011, Fiscal Transparency
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0015, 2011, E-Government
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – Public Data Use
NO0016, 2011, Public Participation
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Statistic Publication
NO0017, 2011, Open Data
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government – National Public Opinion Survey
NO0018, 2011, Records Management
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An Open Public Sector and Inclusive Government
NO0019, 2011, Public Participation