On 30 March 2017, Mjaft! Movement presented the study report "Openness of governance institutions of executive power in the region and in Albania" in framework of the project ACTION SEE (Accountability, Technology and Institutional Openness Network in South East European region). The project comes as a joint initiative of six Western Balkan countries, including: Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia. The purpose of this study is to present the current situation in the region through objective measurements of open government’s executive power and the opportunities for individuals to updated information from public institutions, also addressing recommendations to improve this situation. The object of this study were Prime Ministry, Ministries and Executive Agencies.
Valuated with 38% of meeting the basic indicators of the study, Albania ranks one before the last in the region on the issue of Government Openness, while the entire region does not exceed the value of 47% of meeting the basic indicators considered on this study.
Regional Index of Government Openness has measured the level to which institutions of Western Balkan countries are available to citizens and society by taking in count four key principles, such as: transparency, accessibility, integrity and effectiveness.
The study is based on a scientific method, which was counted in two phases, firstly was carried out the monitoring of public institutions through their official web pages, analysing the relevant legislation and in the second phase, is followed the method of filling structured questionnaires. Throughout the region are taken into consideration 274 institutions of executive power, which are monitored for about 80 indicator/institution from where are collected about 15,000 data on institutions.
The implementation time period for this study, is stretched around four months, October - December 2016. In this first phase are presented data regarding on the executive power, which will be followed by those for local government and the judiciary power.
The rate of Government Openness is figured out on 58% of fulfilment of indicators by the Prime Ministry Office of our country, an expected result and rough with the countries of the region. The most prominent problems are referred to, the lack of activities agenda of the sessions envisaged to be taken by this institution, the closed-door meetings of the government, as well as the lack of accessibility related to discussions documents and activity records, on creating to citizens the dynamic views of discussions on specific policies that directly affects their interests and quality of life.
Ministries reach the quota of 35% of fulfilling the indicators where there is a great variability between ministries. In value of 57%, the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism and Entrepreneurship is ranked first on the index of open government and the State Ministry for Relations with Parliament with the quota of only 2.5%, is ranked at the bottom of the list of these Executive Institutions.
Executive Agencies are quoted with 21% of fulfilment of indicators for Open Government. In frame of legal obligations from the Law no. 119/2014 "On Freedom of Information", Executive Agencies violate these obligations by not publishing the obligated information on their official websites and moreover, the willingness and availability is at very low levels.
This project will continue on the next two years, to generate comparative data in regarding with regional institutions in terms of open government. Its implementation comes as part of the integration process of Western Balkan governments, in frame of achieving good governance standards through a transparent administration.