Web Modernization for the National Assembly (RS0065)

Brief description of the Commitment

The recommendation implies the improvement of the proactive transparency of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia through the redesign and modernization of its website, the introduction of new contents and new publication formats (when possible), in accordance with the previously analysed needs. It is expected that such an approach to the wider public, i.e. to all stakeholders, shall significantly facilitate the availability and accessibility of contents, information and data resulting from the work of the National Assembly, as well as from the work of other state authorities, organizations and bodies.

Problem Definition

1. What problem does the commitment aim to address? As the supreme representative body and the holder of constitutional and legislative power, the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia has a particularly important role in the society, and thus the public's interest in its work is constantly at a high level. Publicity of work is regulated by the provisions of the Law on the National Assembly ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 9/10) and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly ("Official Gazette of the RS", No. 20/12), which prescribe numerous mechanisms for informing the public. Modern methods of information place a special emphasis on providing information through websites, regardless of which entities are involved, i.e. whether it is a state authority or an entity belonging to another sector. Bearing in mind the constitutional and legislative competence, the electoral, control and representative functions of the National Assembly, as well as the intensive dynamics of work, a number of different types of content are available on the website of the National Assembly (http://www.parlament.gov.rs/), as well as a large amount of information and data derived from its work, as well as from the work of other state authorities, organizations and bodies. However, due to the constant need to publish new content in order to achieve a higher level of transparency, it was noted that the existing website does not allow for easy access to all the contents, data and information found on it and is more difficult to perform search, so there are numerous challenges in figuring out how new information and data will be introduced and published on it.

2. What are the causes of the problem? The main cause of the current situation stems from the fact that the existing website of the National Assembly was created more than 10 years ago, in accordance with the needs and technical possibilities and capacities at the time, which have changed significantly since then.

Commitment Description

1. What has been done so far to solve the problem? The National Assembly Service, i.e., the competent Editorial Board of the National Assembly website and the competent Public Relations Department, have for years been proactive in overcoming the issue of difficulty finding of contents, information and data on the website. In this direction, there is a constant effort to find creative solutions in order to introduce new features on the existing website, within the existing possibilities. One of the most demanding solutions, which proved to be very successful in practice, was the introduction of live streaming of sessions of the National Assembly, sessions of working bodies in and outside the seat of the National Assembly, as well as of other activities organized by the National Assembly.

2. What solution are you proposing? As a solution to the problem, it is proposed to improve the website of the National Assembly, which will make it easier to find and search the contents, information and data published on it. In this way, the large amount of contents, information and data that goes "into the depths" of the website will be more accessible to everyone (MPs and employees of the National Assembly Service, state authorities, organizations and bodies, media representatives, representatives of civil society, citizens and others). Accordingly, the solution includes:  redesign of the website of the National Assembly;  uploading CVs of MPs on the website of the National Assembly (given that MPs are not legally obliged to submit their CVs for publication on the website, MPs will be offered, if they so wish, to submit CVs on the form which shall be prescribed by the Editorial Board of the National Assembly website, with a disclaimer that the National Assembly and the National Assembly Service are not responsible for the content of the published CVs of MPs on the website);  uploading of acts in searchable formats (when possible, bearing in mind that proposers submit draft laws and other acts in various non-searchable formats). As with the creation of the existing website, the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, the Law on the National Assembly and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, as well as the internal acts of the National Assembly Service and the Editorial Board of the National Assembly website, shall be adhered to during the redesign of the National Assembly website.

3. What results do we want to achieve by implementing this commitment? The described improvement of the website of the National Assembly will enable the contents, data and information that already exist on the website to be more accessible and visible, and will contribute to the further improvement of proactive transparency. The planned redesign of the website and its modernization are needed in order to make the existing contents, information and data more accessible to all stakeholders who use them for the sake of being informed, but also due to the needs of performing their business activities, as well as the need for citizens to be more easily informed about the results of the work of the National Assembly. Moreover, a redesign is necessary in order to introduce new types of contents, information and data to the website of the National Assembly. Finally, it will enable the National Assembly Service to continue its proactive approach to publishing contents arising from its work and the work of the National Assembly.

Commitment Analysis

1. How will the commitment promote transparency? By implementing the proposed solution, i.e. by redesigning the website of the National Assembly, introducing new contents and new publication formats (when possible), all stakeholders will have significantly easier access to information about the work of the National Assembly, as well as about the work of other state authorities, organizations and bodies.

2. How will the commitment help foster accountability? Starting from the fact that the recommendation will enable easier and simpler access to information, it will also indirectly improve the level of accountability concerning the available contents, which will thus be more visible and easier to follow.

3. How will the commitment improve citizen participation in defining, implementing, and monitoring solutions? Indirectly, and in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia, the Law on the National Assembly and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, which refer to the publicity of work, the recommendation will also contribute to the improvement of citizens' participation in decision- making, given that adequate, accessible and timely information is the main prerequisite of civic participation.

Commitment Planning (Milestones | Expected Outputs | Expected Completion Date)

1. Decision on amendments to the National Assembly website | Decision on the establishment of the Editorial Board of the Decision reached | IV quarter of 2024

2. Analysis of the needs of all stakeholders concerning the type of contents, information and data that will be located in certain segments of the National Assembly website, according to the priorities | Analysis completed | II quarter of 2025

3. Successive implementation of the redesign of the website of the National Assembly | Finished redesign and modernization of the website of the National Assembly http://www.parla ment.gov.rs/ | IV quarter of 2026