ReSPA Strengthens Open Government Reform in the Western Balkans at OGP Meeting 2024
14-15 November 2024, Tirana, Albania
Key leaders and experts discuss the region's future of open government reforms, focusing on strengthening collaboration, sharing best practices, and advancing transparency and accountability.
Opening remarks from Minister Adea Pirdeni and Director Maja Handjiska Trendafilova underscored the importance of open government initiatives, while Tinatin Ninua from OECD framed the discussions around enhancing accountability and transparency. Head of Political Section at EU Delegation to Albania, Andre Rizzo delivered a keynote address stressing the role of the EU in supporting open government reforms in the region.
Director Handjiska-Trendafilova underscored at the opening that "ReSPA has been at the forefront of advancing open government principles in the Western Balkans, fostering a culture of collaboration between governments, civil society, and international partners”. She underlined that ReSPA has helped embed transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement into public administration through capacity building, peer learning, and technical support: “Our ongoing commitment to open data initiatives and digital transformation reflects our determination to create more responsive, inclusive, and effective governance. As we continue this journey, the unwavering partnership of all stakeholders—governments, CSOs, academia, and the private sector—remains indispensable in ensuring that open government principles thrive in the region".
A Ministerial Roundtable Dialogue with Ministers Adea Pirdeni, Elbert Krasniqi, Goran Minchev and Jelena Žarić Kovačević and Deputy Minister Elvir Mahmuzić and State Secretary Dragiša Janjušević, moderated by Tinatin Ninua, took stock of on open government reforms in the region.
The OGP Regional Meeting was vital for knowledge-sharing, dynamic discussions, and strategic collaboration. Participants from governments, civil society, and international organizations came together to address challenges in digital governance, anti-corruption, and the civil society space. A dynamic panel discussion provided valuable insights into a range of topics:
Fighting Corruption by Building Political Integrity: session explored the current state of political integrity in the Western Balkans, outlining actionable strategies to enhance political transparency and accountability.
Exploring Digital Governance in the Open Government Partnership: moderated by Bojana Bajic from ReSPA, featured insights from Igor Vidacak, Nadiia Konachuk, and Mila Josifovska Danilovska who reflected on progress, shared best practices, and envisioned a future where digital governance embodies openness, transparency, and citizen empowerment. The collaborative spirit and actionable insights set the stage for transformative advancements in digital governance.
Enabling Environment for Civil Society: a powerful discussion spotlighting the crucial role of civil society organizations in driving transparency and accountability within the OGP framework. The session celebrated successes while addressing ongoing challenges in fostering a supportive environment for CSOs.
Safeguarding Democracy: This session focused on parliaments' pivotal role in advancing open government initiatives and emphasized technology, artificial intelligence, and online citizen participation as vital tools for promoting democratic values and open governance in the Western Balkans.
ReSPA has played a key role in advancing open data in the region, supporting Western Balkans' participation in OGP summits, strengthening national open data portals, and building capacity with EU institutions.
With Open Data Methodology, advocating for the region's inclusion in the EU's data maturity report, and launching open data competitions to promote transparency, accountability, and innovation in service delivery, we remain committed to advancing transparency in the Western Balkans.
