Sensemaking
#18Key Findings
Slovenia falls into the lower-middle ranks internationally (rank 18) in the category of sensemaking.
Several public-sector programs aimed at exploring innovative solutions to problems have been launched. Economic analysis and statistical offices produce the data and forecasts needed for strategic processes.
Regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) have been expended to include non-financial impacts. RIAs are carried out for all primary laws and some subordinate regulations. While a development strategy has been in place since 2017, implementation has been a weak point.
The culture of ex post evaluation is comparatively underdeveloped. Most departments did not conduct any external evaluations during the review period.
Several public-sector programs aimed at exploring innovative solutions to problems have been launched. Economic analysis and statistical offices produce the data and forecasts needed for strategic processes.
Regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) have been expended to include non-financial impacts. RIAs are carried out for all primary laws and some subordinate regulations. While a development strategy has been in place since 2017, implementation has been a weak point.
The culture of ex post evaluation is comparatively underdeveloped. Most departments did not conduct any external evaluations during the review period.
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To what extent can the central government foster the capacity for strategic foresight and anticipatory innovation within its organization?
10
9
9
The central government can foster the capacity for strategic foresight and anticipatory innovation within its organization.
8
7
6
7
6
Most of the time, the central government can foster the capacity for strategic foresight and anticipatory innovation within its organization.
5
4
3
4
3
The central government is rarely capable of fostering the capacity for strategic foresight and anticipatory innovation within its organization.
2
1
1
The central government is not capable of fostering the capacity for strategic foresight and anticipatory innovation within its organization.
The Government Office for Development and European Cohesion Policy was founded in 2014. In January 2023, the office was reorganized within the Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development. Among other responsibilities, the ministry coordinates development planning documents with those of the European Union and other international organizations. The Slovenian Development Strategy 2030 was prepared in 2017. Although the government has established a special website for the implementation of the strategy, the last report on development was produced in 2020.
In 2017, the public sector introduced some innovations, such as the interactive Policy Jam workshops. In these workshops, stakeholders worked on predetermined policy topics, attempted to understand the main challenges, and sought possible solutions. However, only two Policy Jams were organized. In October 2021, a global conference was held under the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. This conference marked the first time that governance in terms of innovation, drafting better laws, and improving the quality of the public sector was discussed.
The government is also supported by two offices: the Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. These offices produce data and forecasts essential for the country’s various strategy and development processes.
Citations:
Observatory of Public Sector Innovation. 2017. “Policy Jam.” https://oecd-opsi.org/innovations/policy-jam/
Republika Slovenija. 2024. “Izvajanje Strategije razvoja Slovenije 2030.” https://www.gov.si/zbirke/projekti-in-programi/izvajanje-strategije-razvoja-slovenije-2030/
Youtube. 2017. “Prihodnost Slovenije.” https://www.youtube.com/@prihodnostslovenije6502
Ministry of Public Administration. 2021. “Strategic Foresight of the Future – The Key to Making Countries More Prepared for Future Challenges.” https://www.gov.si/en/news/2021-10-18-strategic-foresight-of-the-future-the-key-to-making-countries-more-prepared-for-future-challenges-79506/
In 2017, the public sector introduced some innovations, such as the interactive Policy Jam workshops. In these workshops, stakeholders worked on predetermined policy topics, attempted to understand the main challenges, and sought possible solutions. However, only two Policy Jams were organized. In October 2021, a global conference was held under the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU. This conference marked the first time that governance in terms of innovation, drafting better laws, and improving the quality of the public sector was discussed.
The government is also supported by two offices: the Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development and the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. These offices produce data and forecasts essential for the country’s various strategy and development processes.
Citations:
Observatory of Public Sector Innovation. 2017. “Policy Jam.” https://oecd-opsi.org/innovations/policy-jam/
Republika Slovenija. 2024. “Izvajanje Strategije razvoja Slovenije 2030.” https://www.gov.si/zbirke/projekti-in-programi/izvajanje-strategije-razvoja-slovenije-2030/
Youtube. 2017. “Prihodnost Slovenije.” https://www.youtube.com/@prihodnostslovenije6502
Ministry of Public Administration. 2021. “Strategic Foresight of the Future – The Key to Making Countries More Prepared for Future Challenges.” https://www.gov.si/en/news/2021-10-18-strategic-foresight-of-the-future-the-key-to-making-countries-more-prepared-for-future-challenges-79506/
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To what extent does the government conduct high-quality impact assessments to evaluate the potential effects of prepared legislation before implementation?
10
9
9
The government draws on high-quality RIAs to assess the potential impact of prepared legislation before implementation.
8
7
6
7
6
In most cases, the government draws on high-quality RIAs to assess the potential impact of prepared legislation before implementation.
5
4
3
4
3
The government rarely draws on high-quality RIAs to assess the potential impact of prepared legislation before implementation.
2
1
1
The government does not draw on high-quality RIAs to assess the potential impact of prepared legislation before implementation.
In 2019, the government adopted an Action Plan to improve the process of planning, preparing, adopting, and evaluating the impact of 2019 – 2022 legislation. The plan extends the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) guide to cover the assessment of non-financial impacts and recommends the introduction of preliminary impact assessments along with a more in-depth analysis of potential social and environmental impacts.
The Court of Audit has published a series of three audit reports entitled “Are we checking the impact of the proposed regulations on society in Slovenia” (RIA 1-2007, RIA 2-2012, RIA 3-2021). The Court of Audit has been continuously auditing the drafting, adoption, and monitoring of regulations since 2004. Its last report was published in 2021, assessing that between May 31, 2012, and June 30, 2018, the government was partially effective in regulating the area of implementing analyses of the impact of regulations on society.
In 2021, the OECD prepared the Regulatory Policy Outlook 2021 for Slovenia. The report assessed that RIA is carried out for all primary laws and some subordinate regulations. The impact assessment requirements for subordinate legislation are less stringent than those for primary laws. The RIA process, especially for subordinate regulations, could be strengthened by introducing a threshold test or proportionality criteria to determine which regulations require in-depth scrutiny.
Citations:
OECD. 2018. “Regulatory Policy in the Republic of Slovenia.” https://www.stopbirokraciji.gov.si/fileadmin/user_upload/mju/Boljsi_predpisi/Novice/Regulatorna_politika_v_Sloveniji_koncno_porocilo.pdf
Računsko sodišče. 2021. “Ali v Sloveniji preverjamo učinke predlaganih predpisov na družbo.” https://www.rs-rs.si/revizije-in-revidiranje/arhiv-revizij/revizija/spremembe-na-podrocju-analize-ucinkov-predlaganih-predpisov-od-izdaje-zadnjega-ria-porocila-in-prika/
Računsko sodišče. 2021. “Ali v Sloveniji preverjamo učinke predlaganih predpisov na družbo.” https://www.rs-rs.si/fileadmin/user_upload/Datoteke/Revizije/2021/RIA3/RIA_3_GlavnoPorocilo_RevizijskoP.pdf
OECD. 2021. “Regulatory Policy Outlook 2021.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/fr/governance/oecd-regulatory-policy-outlook-2021_3ebf1de2-en
The Court of Audit has published a series of three audit reports entitled “Are we checking the impact of the proposed regulations on society in Slovenia” (RIA 1-2007, RIA 2-2012, RIA 3-2021). The Court of Audit has been continuously auditing the drafting, adoption, and monitoring of regulations since 2004. Its last report was published in 2021, assessing that between May 31, 2012, and June 30, 2018, the government was partially effective in regulating the area of implementing analyses of the impact of regulations on society.
In 2021, the OECD prepared the Regulatory Policy Outlook 2021 for Slovenia. The report assessed that RIA is carried out for all primary laws and some subordinate regulations. The impact assessment requirements for subordinate legislation are less stringent than those for primary laws. The RIA process, especially for subordinate regulations, could be strengthened by introducing a threshold test or proportionality criteria to determine which regulations require in-depth scrutiny.
Citations:
OECD. 2018. “Regulatory Policy in the Republic of Slovenia.” https://www.stopbirokraciji.gov.si/fileadmin/user_upload/mju/Boljsi_predpisi/Novice/Regulatorna_politika_v_Sloveniji_koncno_porocilo.pdf
Računsko sodišče. 2021. “Ali v Sloveniji preverjamo učinke predlaganih predpisov na družbo.” https://www.rs-rs.si/revizije-in-revidiranje/arhiv-revizij/revizija/spremembe-na-podrocju-analize-ucinkov-predlaganih-predpisov-od-izdaje-zadnjega-ria-porocila-in-prika/
Računsko sodišče. 2021. “Ali v Sloveniji preverjamo učinke predlaganih predpisov na družbo.” https://www.rs-rs.si/fileadmin/user_upload/Datoteke/Revizije/2021/RIA3/RIA_3_GlavnoPorocilo_RevizijskoP.pdf
OECD. 2021. “Regulatory Policy Outlook 2021.” https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/fr/governance/oecd-regulatory-policy-outlook-2021_3ebf1de2-en
To what extent does the government effectively incorporate sustainability assessments within the framework of RIAs?
10
9
9
High-quality sustainability assessments are incorporated within regulatory impact assessments.
8
7
6
7
6
High-quality sustainability assessments are, for the most part, incorporated within regulatory impact assessments.
5
4
3
4
3
High-quality sustainability assessments are rarely incorporated within regulatory impact assessments.
2
1
1
Sustainability assessments are not incorporated within regulatory impact assessments.
The Development Strategy for Slovenia 2030, adopted in 2017, includes a chapter on implementation and monitoring. It emphasizes the importance of consistently following instructions, monitoring implementation success, addressing deviations, and adapting to new situations and challenges to effectively achieve the set goals.
The strategy acknowledges that implementation has historically been the weakest aspect of development planning. It provides a general framework for implementation, stipulating that it should be based on medium-term planning aligned with the medium-term financial framework. Monitoring the achievement of the strategy’s goals by 2030 or 2050 is planned using the OECD framework for evaluating the agreed measures.
For each development goal, the strategy defines two to three main performance indicators with baselines and target values. These indicators are monitored and analyzed by the Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development. The sustainability aspect of monitoring the strategy’s objectives will determine whether the starting points for development need to change during implementation.
Citations:
Vlada Republike Slovenije. 2017. “Strategija Razvoja Slovenije 2023.” https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MKRR/Strategija-razvoja-Slovenije-2030/Strategija_razvoja_Slovenije_2030.pdf
The strategy acknowledges that implementation has historically been the weakest aspect of development planning. It provides a general framework for implementation, stipulating that it should be based on medium-term planning aligned with the medium-term financial framework. Monitoring the achievement of the strategy’s goals by 2030 or 2050 is planned using the OECD framework for evaluating the agreed measures.
For each development goal, the strategy defines two to three main performance indicators with baselines and target values. These indicators are monitored and analyzed by the Institute for Macroeconomic Analysis and Development. The sustainability aspect of monitoring the strategy’s objectives will determine whether the starting points for development need to change during implementation.
Citations:
Vlada Republike Slovenije. 2017. “Strategija Razvoja Slovenije 2023.” https://www.gov.si/assets/ministrstva/MKRR/Strategija-razvoja-Slovenije-2030/Strategija_razvoja_Slovenije_2030.pdf
To what extent do government ministries utilize ex post evaluations to improve existing policies?
10
9
9
High-quality ex post evaluations serve as the basis for making adjustments to public policies.
8
7
6
7
6
High-quality ex post evaluations frequently serve as the basis for making adjustments to public policies.
5
4
3
4
3
High-quality ex post evaluations rarely serve as the basis for making adjustments to public policies.
2
1
1
High-quality ex post evaluations are not utilized to make adjustments to public policies.
The Resolution on Normative Activity adopted in 2009 mandates the assessment of the impact of public policies. In 2023, the Slovenian Association of Evaluators compiled a list of external government evaluation studies to be conducted between 2019 and June 2023. A similar list was drawn up in 2009. Since then, improvements in the government’s evaluation culture have been noted. However, the evaluation culture remains at a very low level. At least two-thirds of the departments did not conduct any external evaluations during the specified period. Furthermore, at least a quarter of them did not understand the concept of external impact evaluation.
The Ministry of Public Administration, responsible for decisions on normative activity that require the evaluation of public policy impact, did not conduct a single external evaluation during the reporting period. The vast majority of evaluations are carried out by research or consultancy organizations, and these evaluation studies are often limited to indicator analyses and compliance checks. The association also observes that the study results are not publicly presented to the evaluation community. Instead, the results are only presented to stakeholders in the problem area, which is inadequate.
Citations:
Bojan Radelj. 2023. Seznam Vladnih evalvacijskih študij 2019-2023. https://www.sdeval.si/2023/06/16/seznam-vladnih-evalvacijskih-studij-2019-2023/
The Ministry of Public Administration, responsible for decisions on normative activity that require the evaluation of public policy impact, did not conduct a single external evaluation during the reporting period. The vast majority of evaluations are carried out by research or consultancy organizations, and these evaluation studies are often limited to indicator analyses and compliance checks. The association also observes that the study results are not publicly presented to the evaluation community. Instead, the results are only presented to stakeholders in the problem area, which is inadequate.
Citations:
Bojan Radelj. 2023. Seznam Vladnih evalvacijskih študij 2019-2023. https://www.sdeval.si/2023/06/16/seznam-vladnih-evalvacijskih-studij-2019-2023/