- The objective is to improve the relations of citizens and companies with the Administration
- Meeting with the representatives CEOE, CEPYME, ATA, Spanish Chamber of Commerce and CERMI to promote the simplification and reduction of burdens of the Administration, after signing agreements with these organizations
The Minister of Territorial Policy and Public Service, Miquel Iceta, held a meeting with representatives of entrepreneurs, self-employed people and people with disabilities, after the recent signing of agreements for the identification and elimination of administrative burdens.
The General State Administration (AGE) thus promotes the participation of the social and business sector in the policy of reducing administrative burdens through the signing of agreements with representative organizations and associations.
The objective of the meeting was to advance issues such as improving e-government, reducing the documentation requested in the procedures, facilitating interconnection between the different ministerial departments, improving the information available on the websites of certain agencies, facilitating the completion of forms or developing information campaigns on topics of general interest, both for companies and citizens.
In short, it is a question of detecting unnecessary, repetitive or especially complex procedures that can be eliminated, reduced or simplified.
The Secretary General of Public Service, Javier Rueda, and the Director General of Public Governance, Olivié Bayón, were present at the meeting. The business and social organizations have assisted the General Secretary of CEOE, Juan Alberto González-Ruiz, the General Secretary of CEPYME, Luis Aribayos, the President of ATA, Lorenzo Amor, the President of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, José Luis Bonet, and the President of CERMI, Luis Cayo.
Strengthening the modernization of public services
The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Function proposed at the meeting to reinforce one of its main axes of action, transformation and innovation in public services, in order to achieve the highest quality standards and also orient them to the demands of citizens and companies.
The experience of companies and self-employed people and groups that require special attention will also facilitate the correct identification of those requirements that represent obstacles to growth and entrepreneurship.
The intention is to enhance the active participation of the social and business sector in the policy of reducing administrative burdens, complementing the own vision of the actions of the General Administration of the State with that of the users, who are the ultimate recipients.
Commitment to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles
This reaffirms the commitment of the Government of Spain to simplification and the processes of reduction of administrative burdens to make the structures of public administrations more flexible and overcome the difficulties that citizens and companies may encounter with the public sector.
The European Union and the OECD recommend that states improve the reduction of forms and declarations and encourage the simplification of administrative and regulatory procedures. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to which UN member states are committed, also promote the creation of effective institutions that are accountable, as well as ensuring the adoption at all levels of inclusive, participatory and representative decisions that respond to the needs of society.
Likewise, the pandemic situation caused by COVID-19 has highlighted the need for public administrations to act swiftly to meet the demands of citizens.
The agreements with the business and autonomous representatives aim to promote the reduction of red tape and bureaucratic burdens, in addition to facilitating their relationship with the AGE and contributing to the reduction of operating costs of commercial activities, helping to improve the competitiveness of companies, their development and their future. The new conventions will continue to analyse the regulations in order to eliminate, when they are identified, bureaucratic obstacles.
Agreement with CERMI
The Ministry of Territorial Policy and Public Function has among its priorities the improvement of the attention to citizens with the AGE. In particular with CERMI, people with disabilities and their families, to develop plans and programs that improve care and inclusion and identify the bureaucratic obstacles that still exist for this group.
CERMI is the platform for representation, action and defense of people with disabilities and their families, of which all state disability organizations are part. It is made up of more than 7,000 associations, organizations and entities that together represent almost four million people with disabilities in Spain, and whose priority objectives include improving living and social conditions.