Open government advocates sometimes struggle to offer a compelling vision of what they stand for. Too often the esoteric jargon around the issues obscures the fundamentals of an open society, in which civil society has space to operate and access to information is for the many, not the few. At the European Meeting of the Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More (OGP) in Dublin next week the contrast between open and closed societies will be brought into sharp focus. Government reformers and activists from over 30 countries, including a large Ukraine contingent, will be gathering at a time when the fight over space for civic participation and reform is being played out at Europe’s borders. These are urgent, political issues on which OGP can play an important role.
The meeting’s timing is central to its importance. Almost all governments attending are currently creating their first or second OGP National Action Plans, which are due to begin implementation on July 1st 2014. Ministers, officials and civil society will be exchanging ideas around open government reform at the precise moment when final drafts of their two-year OGP commitments are being written. This makes it the most important peer exchange event in OGP’s short history. For civil society this is a prime advocacy opportunity. Want to see more countries make OGP commitments on open contractingA transparent procurement process, known as open contracting, increases competition, improves public service delivery, and ensures governments better value for their money. Technical specifications: C...? Now is the time to make your case. Upset that citizen demands have been ignored in early drafts? Strategise with others on how to campaign effectively. Want to see consistency between your country’s adherence to OGP principles and its position on the Anti-Money Laundering Directive in Brussels? Speak to the Minister in the corridors.
Ireland is one of the newest members of OGP and the host Government has designed a programme that captures this interesting moment in OGP’s growth. With 43 independent accountability reports now published into OGP countries, the evidence is mounting on where the best consultation models can be found and who is implementing the most ambitious open government commitments. Hearsay and anecdotes of good OGP practices can now be accompanied with crosscutting analysis of how to participate effectively. This information is hugely valuable to reformers in government and civil society looking to learn lessons from other countries.
The programme also addresses two emerging issues for OGP: the role of the European Union and other regional groupings; and finding the right way to engage with the private sector. The EU’s Ombudsman, members of the European Parliament and officials from the other European institutions will be present to discuss how to work effectively together on open government. The occasion will be used to celebrate France becoming the latest country to join OGP and to look forward to filling in the remaining gaps in the European OGP map. Technology companies and small and medium enterprises will be part of a session to explore open data, the development of new companies that rely on government transparency and civic participation, and the need for greater corporate accountability.
The transparency and open government conference circuit feels ever more crowded, and it is easy to be skeptical about these gatherings. As always, many of the most productive and useful interactions will take place in the margins of the formal programme, and at the civil society meet-up prior to the official conference. But at the heart of the Dublin meeting will be practical and real opportunities for governments and civil society to raise the bar on OGP participation in Europe. The stark contrast between open and closed societies in the region has leapt to the front of newspapers across the continent in recent months. OGP must now play its part to show that putting citizens at the heart of government is no gimmick. It is fundamental to an open, free and tolerant 21st century country.