2022 OGP Europe Regional Meeting

Europe is home to more than two-thirds of the world’s liberal democracies, according to the V-Dem Institute's Democracy Report 2022. However, the same report found that democracy has weakened in all but a select few of these countries over the past ten years. While the causes are multi-faceted and often country-specific, the report also identified common threads including increasing polarization driven by online misinformation and disinformation, corporate secrecy shaped by the few and inaccessible to the many, and a widespread failure to meaningfully involve the public in decision-making.


During the same 10 years where democracy has been in decline globally, and in Europe, OGP has grown to include 77 national, 106 local members, and thousands of civil society organizations , collaborating to deliver almost 5000 open government reforms to date. Other mechanisms include the 2017 adoption of the OECD Recommendation on Open Government, which paved the way to a harmonized design and implementation of open government policies. This dialogue will explore whether and how open government mechanisms and reforms can rise to meet the major challenges to democratic values in Europe and beyond.

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Secondo il Rapporto sulla democrazia 2022 del V-Dem Institute, l'Europa ospita più di due terzi delle democrazie liberali del mondo. Tuttavia, il rapporto rileva quanto la democrazia si sia indebolita in tutti i paesi negli ultimi dieci anni, tranne che in pochi eletti. Sebbene le cause siano multiple e spesso specifiche per ogni paese, il rapporto ha anche identificato elementi comuni, tra cui una crescente polarizzazione causata dalla disinformazione, inclusa quella online, un’inesistente trasparenza a livello aziendale portata avanti da pochi e inaccessibile ai molti, e un diffuso fallimento nel coinvolgere significativamente il pubblico nel processo decisionale.

Negli stessi dieci anni in cui la democrazia era in a livello globale e in Europa, OGP cresceva fino a includere 77 membri nazionali, 106 locali e migliaia di organizzazioni della società civile, collaborando per realizzare quasi 5000 riforme del governo aperto fino ad oggi. Altri meccanismi includono l'adozione nel 2017 della Raccomandazione dell'OCSE sul governo aperto, che ha avviato un processo di armonizzazione della progettazione e attuazione delle politiche di governo aperto. Questo dialogo esplorerà se e come i meccanismi e le riforme di governo aperto possono crescere per affrontare le principali sfide ai valori democratici in Europa e oltre.

Paola Pisano and Aidan Eyakuze will reflect on the discussions arising from the first dialogue on Upholding Democratic Values through Open Government, in the context of their Co-chair term of the OGP Steering Committee. Taimar Peterkop and Anabel Cruz will then chart a way forward for their upcoming Co-chair term, with a focus on the development of the new strategy for OGP, and the role of the Partnership in upholding democratic values.

Despite the Russian war against Ukraine still raging on, the international community and Ukrainians themselves are actively planning reconstruction efforts. Trust among all stakeholders is crucial for a successful and efficient recovery. To achieve this level of trust, the reconstruction process should be developed in an open, transparent, and accountable manner, free from corruption, and in constant coordination among all the stakeholders. This dialogue will focus on how stakeholders are already using open governance practices in planning and recovery efforts, practical tools that are being developed to ensure accountability, and emerging coalitions supporting an open reconstruction and recovery.

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Nonostante la guerra della Russia contro l'Ucraina sia ancora in corso, la comunità internazionale e gli ucraini stessi stanno pianificando attivamente gli sforzi di ricostruzione. La fiducia tra tutte le parti interessate è fondamentale per una ripresa efficace ed efficiente. Per raggiungere questo livello di fiducia, il processo di ricostruzione dovrebbe essere sviluppato in modo aperto, trasparente e responsabile, esente da corruzione e in costante coordinamento tra tutte le parti interessate. Il dialogo metterà in evidenza come le parti interessate stiano già utilizzando pratiche di governance aperta nella pianificazione e negli sforzi di ripresa, strumenti pratici che sono in fase di sviluppo per assicurare responsabilità e come stiano emergendo coalizioni a supporto di una ricostruzione e ripresa aperte.

The global outlook for open government, once seen as on an almost inevitable positive trajectory, is now less optimistic. Since 2011, we’ve seen democratic backsliding across the globe: V-Dem assesses that 70% of the world’s population now live in autocracies. OGP member countries are not immune to this trend either. Citizens in only six out of 77 current OGP countries enjoy increased civil liberties as compared to a decade ago.

How have we found ourselves here? For open government to fulfill its once-hopeful promise, what reassessment of our theory of change, approaches, and activities are needed? And with the ongoing strategy refresh process in mind, what role does OGP play?

This community dialogue provides the opportunity to have an open, frank, and provocative conversation about the thorniest of questions. The session is kicked off by a fireside chat in plenary, after which we will move to facilitated small table discussions. Conversations will be facilitated by members of the OGP Steering Committee, Italian MSF, and OGP staff.