The Memorandum of Co-operation between Non-Governmental Organisations and the Cabinet of Ministers Latvia Dita Erna Sīle 15 May 2017

NGO PORTRAIT IN LATVIA 18 697 375.9 MEUR 72,4 MEUR 8% 2 640 96.7 MEUR 16 173 organisations 1 225 foundations 1 299 religious organisations 375.9 MEUR NGO revenues 2015 (total) - 72,4 MEUR NGO financing through line ministries (2017 prognosis) 28.7 MEUR economical activities 25.3 MEUR recreation, culture, religion 8% Annual growth of registered NGOs 2015 - 2017 - 2 640 96.7 MEUR Public good NGOs Companies donating to public good NGOs receive company income tax discount Donations (2015) 14.7 MEUR sports 10.3 MEUR charity 4.4 MEUR education - 62 043 100.4 MEUR Employees at NGOs - Revenues from economic activity (2015) ...

MEMORANDUM – BREAKING SILOS Introduced in 2005 based on NGO initiative Between the Cabinet (direct public administration) and NGOs 57 NGOs were first signatories of the Memorandum Now 424 NGOs have signed the Memorandum It aims to promote effective work of the public administration in the public interest and to ensure the involvement of civil society in the government’s decision-making process The Memorandum is the main co-operation platform between government and NGOs in Latvia Participation is free and open for any registered NGO

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS GREEN PAPER DRAFT ANNOUNCEMENT (Meeting of State Secretaries) MEETING OF THE CABINET COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE CABINET SAEIMA (parliament) Working groups/ advisory councils Public consultations ADOPTION Explanatory video Applies to: each stage of policy cycle policy planning documents and legal acts, including EU national positions formal and informal groups can participate, as well as individuals

THE COUNCIL FOR IMPLEMENTATION The Council equally represents both the public administration and NGOs 8 representatives from each side NGO representatives re-elected by signatories each 1,5 years Chairperson: Director of the State Chancellery Co-chairperson: elected representative from NGOs Statutes in English (technical amendments of 2017 not included) Meetings each month Transmitted live; agendas, videos and minutes publicly available Public administration experts and NGO representatives can participate without voting rights Excluding summer; extraordinary meetings convene Secretariat: the State Chancellery

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL

THE COUNCIL AT WORK Discussions on Co-operation issues and challenges faced during stakeholder engagement process Assessment of NGO participation in the drafting of regulations and policy planning documents, and implementation of policies affecting NGOs Issues raised by NGOs on problems in certain sectors Decisions of the Memorandum are in form of recommendations, but in practice the Council is used as a mechanism to obtain the opinion of NGOs NGO representative of the Council in an advisory capacity participates in State Secretaries' meetings The Cabinet of Ministers Committee meetings The National Tripartite Cooperation Council meetings In different thematic participatory formations, based on delegation Annual NGO conference organised on topical issues

MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS The intensity and quality of the Council's work have increased over time From necessity to ensure participation to common initiatives Horizontal issues that are of relevance for the operation of NGOs The number of visitors that followed the livestreams of the Council meetings has also grown over time The discussions result in concrete solutions Rules of Procedure of the Cabinet of Ministers: horizontal NGO issues before deliberation at the Cabinet must be examined at the Council Advice provided by NGOs are translated into policy planning documents, draft legal acts or legislative amendments The Council helps to find settlements to problems by collaborating with officials of public institutions

PARTICIPATION STATISTICS (2015) 168 Advisory Councils 997 NGOs in Advisory Councils PARTICIPATION STATISTICS (2015) 207 Public consultation meetings 164 Regulation and policy document projects discussed in Councils 120 Written public consultations 266 Working groups on singular regulation or policy document projects 716 NGO opinions received within official decision-making process

ANALYSIS OF CO-OPERATION Sustainable Governance Indicator 2016 Performance: 7 (EU: 6 / OECD: 6.4) Societal consultation takes place frequently and is diverse in nature Diverse outcomes observed in relation to quality of government policies or to induce societal actors support The Review of the NGO Sector in Latvia 2015 In trade and manufacturing state institutions recognize that large professional organisations act as lobbyists, because they represent the field. However, the collaboration is mainly characterised not as pressure on state institutions, but more as constructive collaboration. There are fewer opportunities to order studies in social issues and ministries rely on the expertise of the organization provided free of charge. Participating organizations often come into conflict with each other, by not harmonizing positions among themselves.

EVALUATION OF CO-OPERATION (2017) Evaluation 1 (lowest) – 7 (highest) Direct PA NGOs Gov’t improves open and participatory decision-making, involving NGOs in due time 5.4 5.0 Gov’t ensures development and implementation of civic society development policies 5.2 4.9 Gov’t furthers delegation of public functions, conclusion of co-operation agreements 5.1 4.3 NGOs promote effective and constructive mutual dialogue and co-operation between NGO’s and PA 5.3 NGOs ensure open and participatory development of opinions on regulation and policy planning documents NGOs ensure participation at public consultations, advisory councils and working groups meetings 5.9 NGOs provide information on participation practices and co-operation with direct PA, providing proposals for improvements NGOs ensure qualitative participation; effective, transparent and responsible use of provided financing 4.6 4.5

MEDIUM-TERM PRIORITIES AND ANNUAL WORK PLANS Further development of NGO sector Increase of the State NGO Fund financing / new period of the EEA and Norway Grants Improvement of public good status administrations process and donation regulation Survey of other necessary regulatory improvements, incl. ex-post evaluation of the Voluntary Work Law Co-operation between NGOs and public administration Guidelines of advisory council work Development of the draft Society Integration Plan 2019 – 2025 Revision of public administration functions delegation process NGOs as tool for civic participation Development of the NGOs Code of Ethics Monitoring of the UN SDGs implementation Promoting inclusion of civic education in general education curricula

LESSONS LEARNED FOCUS: horizontal issues for NGO sector POLITICAL SUPPORT: influencing decision making process FEEDBACK: communication and feedback within PA and NGOs BALANCE: proactive and reactive activities REGULARITY: monthly meetings, systemic approach to consultations REPRESENTATION: high level officials

FUTURE PLANS: IT SYSTEM To improve decision making process To expand possibilities of society participation Due 2018

Thank You Dita Erna Sīle Deputy Head of the Department for Public Administration Policy Head of the Change Management Division State Chancellery of the Republic of Latvia E-mail: Dita.Erna.Sile@mk.gov.lv Phone: +371 67082948 www: www.mk.gov.lv Twitter: /Brivibas36 Facebook: /valdibasmaja YouTube: /valstskanceleja Flickr: /valstskanceleja Instagram: /Brivibas36