“A portal launched on March 1 to get public opinion on the most important governmental draft laws. Citizens have the option to make their points and submit proposals. Essentially, that is the feedback mechanism that I mentioned: a project is evaluated not only by departments and not only by the people who had developed the draft law or by-law, but by the people who will live and work under these laws.”
“We need a modern model of governance based on state-of-the-art information technologies including crowdsourcing – a preliminary poll with a consecutive reaction to the results of the decisions that are being introduced.”
“I want to stress that we need to work out a comprehensive strategy for implementing the federal targeted programmes. We should increase the accountability of the individuals and agencies involved in implementing the projects. We also need to review the selection criteria and the system of objectives and indicators for the federal targeted programmes.”
“A great deal will depend on how our agencies, their chief executives and other top and middle-level managers carry out our instructions.<…> In this regard I would like to say that we also intend to introduce special mechanisms for evaluating the work of government institutions.”
“The assessment of our people is precisely the fundamental criterion of the results of the work both of the government and of the regional administration teams on all territories of the Russian Federation.”
“The new assessment mechanism for regional executive bodies should be developed in close cooperation with the public opinion, the business community and trade unions. I would like to emphasise once again that this country’s development and improvements in the quality of life depend on the coordinated efforts of all levels of government, and in large part on the work of regional administrative teams and heads of constituent entities that are personally responsible for the situations in their respective regions.”
“We have already taken a number of steps to change the system for evaluating the performance of regional authorities. We have introduced new assessment criteria such as attraction of investments, consolidation of the regional tax base and provided additional financial support for regions carrying out development projects. We have several strong regions.”
“It is necessary to design a comprehensive appraisal system that will encourage the regions to work for balanced development. <…>The development of the regional economic potential should take into account people’s needs above all else. Certainly, clearer and better criteria should allow us to objectively assess the work performed by the Russian regions, and to support the leaders and those seeking to be among the best regions.”
“The situation in a particular region is not determined solely by the availability of mineral resources or support from the federal centre; however, it is to a large extent determined by the enthusiasm and performance efficiency of regional officials. As you know, we have worked out a system of criteria to assess the work of regional authorities, and this system is currently in place. But a comparison of paper reports to actual results proves that the system is not very effective.”
“Improving the performance of the government machine is our strategic goal. One way to achieve this is to carry out the electronic government project, which we are currently doing. Once implemented, it will greatly reduce the need for people to go from office to office to deal with numerous bureaucrats; instead, they will go to a «one-stop shop» and receive all the information or documents that they need there.”
“The first step has been made now. Obviously, the State Duma will have many new members. The presidential election will be followed by the government’s formation. And, of course (as we have said many times) there will be considerable changes in the government as such and later on in the governors’ corps.”
“I think it is necessary to use electronic interaction channels more actively for sending information to Civil Registry Offices, federal authorities, to stimulate information sharing between departments of Civil Registry Offices in various regions. Our objective is to make it possible for citizens of this country to take important family issues to their local Civil Registry Office so that all these official institutions communicate electronically, and promptly and conveniently resolve all problems for people.”
“Openness, democracy and transparency are not only mechanisms for more efficient government but also strengthen the tradition of civic responsibility and create new opportunities for developing social initiatives. They are the most important tools for feedback and tapping into energetic, caring people who want to contribute to the nation's development. This is the logic underpinning our work, friends and colleagues.”
“The government formulates the vast majority of bills and initiatives. In order to improve the quality of the legislative process and make it more open, we strive to bring citizens, community organisations and the business community into the discussion, development, and review of key government initiatives. This is our principled stance. We are convinced that government resolutions that in one way or another concern the rights of people are in need of transparent public examination. Only then will they be met with understanding and support and will work effectively.”
“I would like to point out that new management approaches are also essential for the government in the development of key resolutions in the formation of long-term programmes and legislative initiatives. I must say that in practice, we in the government of the Russian Federation are beginning to implement such models more and more. I am talking about working with the personnel reserve and the creation of open peer groups.”
“The abundant quantity of bills and motions does not always reflect a high degree of efficiency, especially if it does not go beyond eloquent rhetoric and unsubstantiated intentions, however noble. Every decision that is to become a law or a by-law should be worked through in-depth and thoroughly calculated, and all the possible implications of such decisions, including for regional and municipal public finances, should be taken into account.”
“We should help to polish regional legislative initiatives, to unify proposals that may come from different provinces but that all have to do with some systemic problems of the nation as a whole. <…>Government experts, [Duma] deputies and members of the Federation Council should work more proactively with, and provide assistance to, regional legislators.”