News item | 01-07-2025 | 19:12
The cabinet has given a response to the advice ‘to an executive’ of the Public Administration Council. De Rob argued for a greater role for executive professionals, so that policy fits in better with what society requires. The cabinet proposes various actions that should take care of this.
De Rob states in the advice that implementation is too often seen as something technical. The voice of professionals is also not heard enough and they have too little room to make choices themselves. There is also a strict separation between policy and implementation. As a result, policy does not always fit in well with practice.
The government recognizes this image and indicates that public services in which the needs of society are central requires a different way of working from the government. Executors play a crucial role in this. They must therefore have the room to apply policy and legislation and regulations in such a way that it does justice to the specific context and be involved in policy-making and legislation from the start. This way of working can at the same time contribute to restoring trust in the government.
Activities in the organization
The government proposes various activities to work on this. For example when it comes to the role that civil servants have in this. They are supported in this through various programs about official craftsmanship. Consider making dilemmas discussable or involving citizens and companies in making policy. In addition, specific attention is paid to official consultation with implementing organizations.
An important measure is also the legal anchoring of another, modern management and accountability vision within the central government. In this way ‘service to society’ and ‘values driven work’ are given an explicit place in legislation and frameworks in the field of financing, management and accountability. The aim is for the government’s services to focus on the social effect, and not only on effectiveness and efficiency. For example in the framework law on the government inspections, with a focus on the social impact of supervision. Work is also being done on the modernization of the Framework Act Independent Administrative Bodies. In this, the Cabinet wants to give implementing organizations a reinforced role in policy and legislation. The elaboration of an ’emergency signal’, as an ultimate remedium, will also be looked at to prevent decisions being made without explicitly considering that implementing organizations have already indicated that implementation is not feasible.
Activities at the administrative level
A lot of policy made by the government is implemented by municipalities, provinces and water boards. Good cooperation is essential to give substance to the major social tasks together. That is why, among other things, an inter -administrative learning network is set up between central and local authorities. This should ensure structural feedback from practice to policy. Furthermore, the central government works with the decentralized authorities implementation test. This ensures an early conversation between rich and co -authorities about feasible policy.