Estonia elected to Open Government Partnership Steering Committee

TALLINN - Estonia is to start on Friday its three-year membership in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Steering Committee.

Estonia joined Open Government Partnership in 2012 and is currently implementing its fifth action plan. Estonia's activities in OGP are coordinated by the Government Office.

"We have enough experience to also share with other states and more actively take part in discussions of open government in the international arena," Estonia's State Secretary Taimar Peterkop said.

"In the framework of Estonia's OGP action plan for 2020-2022, six activities will be carried out to improve inclusive policy-making capability and transparency. In addition to developing an inclusive environment for policy-making, good inclusive practices are sought, development programs carried out for local governments to improve their cooperation with communities and the government has also already approved guidelines for ministers and their advisers for preventing conflicts of interests," he added.

Of Estonia's OGP activities, the initiative that has garnered the most international attention is the citizens' initiative portal enabling anyone to raise a social problem or issue, hold public discussions and launch a petition to the parliament. Estonia also serves as a role model with its information system for legislative drafting, which enables those interested to remain up to date on the handling of drafts. A development is also underway as a result of which the information system will become an inclusive environment for lawmaking.

Founded in 2011, Open Government Partnership is an international initiative consisting of 78 states. Open government means exercising official authority honestly, transparently and in partnership with citizens. The OGP Steering Committee consists of representatives of 11 states and 11 non-governmental organizations.