Transparency and Integrity of Ministry of Culture (RO0080)

Description of the problem

Currently, at the level of the deconcentrated services of the Ministry of Culture, the degree of transparency/de-bureaucracy is relatively low. There are elements of good practice in the field, but they are not implemented at the level of all devolved services. The main problems created by the existing bureaucracy can be improved/prevented by introducing an effective standardisation of the specialised work of devolved services. At the same time, taking into account the specificity of the cultural field, which does not have specific legal regulations on the prevention of integrity incidents and vulnerabilities to corruption, it is necessary to develop a guide on institutional integrity in the field of conflicts of interest and incompatibility.

Description of the commitment

What the commitment means The commitment is to analyse the legislative framework and the practice that governs the specialised work of devolved services, in order to make the activity more efficient, as well as to reduce their vulnerabilities.

what are the pursued results - Increasing the degree of transparency/de- bureaucratisation of the specialised activity of devolved services. - Elaboration of unitary operational procedures at the level of the County Directorates for Culture and Bucharest, respectively, for the specialised activity. - Develop a guide on avoiding conflicts of interest and incompatibilities at the level of devolved services. - Standardisation of expert information on the websites of devolved services. - Publication of unitary procedures on the websites of the devolved services as well as on the website of the Ministry of Culture.

what is the major objective Elaboration and implementation of operational procedures with unitary framework content at the level of the Ministry’s devolved services.

Measurable activities (maximum 5) Responsible (institution/partner) Start date Date of completion

1. Carrying out analyses on: a) the legislative framework in force; b) existing formalised procedures at the level of devolved services; c) the specialised information on the websites of the devolved services: d) vulnerabilities to corruption; e) good practices in the field. and the preparation of reports in this regard. Ministry of Culture Deconcentrated services Transparency International -Ro will be involved with the MC in carrying out the analyses and drafting of the respective reports 01.08.2022 31.12.2022

2.1. Organisation of information/consultation sessions with representatives of devolved services following the analyses in point 1

2.2. Organising training sessions in the field of integrity with an emphasis on ensuring transparency, avoiding conflicts of interest, protecting whistleblowers in the public interest, identifying, avoiding and managing corruption risks, for employees of deconcentrated services Ministry of Culture Deconcentrated services TI-Ro will provide experts and integrity training programmes with a focus on ensuring transparency, avoiding conflicts of interest, protecting whistleblowers in the public interest, identifying, avoiding and managing corruption risks 01.01.2023 31.03.2023

3. Development and adoption of procedures with unitary framework content, as well as a guide to integrity Ministry of Culture TI-Ro will provide examples of good practice at national and international level 01.04.2023 31.07.2023

4. Information and dissemination of procedures and guidance at the level of devolved services for implementation, and their publication on the Ministry’s and the devolved services’ webpages Ministry of Culture 01.08.2023 31.08.2023

5. Standardisation of specific information on the websites of devolved services and its publication as open data Ministry of Culture Deconcentrated services 01.09.2023 31.12.2023

Other information Budget required (lei) (source, if it already exists) Funding opportunities will be analysed through non- reimbursable funding programs/ activities will be realised from the budget of the Ministry of Culture Correlation with other government programs/strategies National Anticorruption Strategy 2021-2025, approved by Government Decision no. 1.269/2021

Action Plan Review

Commitment 3. Increasing the transparency, de-bureaucracy, and integrity of the deconcentrated services of the Ministry of Culture

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Modest