Open Government and Public Ethics
The corruption continues to pose a major threat to local and regional governance and democracy in Europe, and this needs the urgent response and actions from the governments and parliaments at all levels. To this end, the Congress activities in Armenia seek to raise the awareness and improve the skills of the local authorities and elected representatives on political integrity, ethics, transparency, open government and participatory decision making as a means to enhance citizen’s confidence and trust in local political actors and institutions.
This thematic area directly contributes to the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and 17 (Partnership for the goals).
Community of Practice
The Community of Practice on public integrity and ethics is designed in the framework of the project, which aims to act as the focal group for strategic localisation of public integrity and anti-corruption policies and their implementation by local authorities of Armenia. It promotes and advocates the European standards on political integrity, ethics, transparent and open governance and citizen participation across local authorities in Armenia.
To facilitate the work of the Community of Practice, four working groups have been established, each of which will work on identifying the challenges and designing approaches in specific areas, namely:
- anti-corruption policies
- public integrity
- transparency in public procurement
- transparency and openness in government.
Conference on Political Integrity and Ethics in Local Governance
The event gathered together representatives of 23 local authorities to launch Community of practice on political integrity and ethics in local governance, aimed at implementing relevant European standards and Congress recommendations at local level in Armenia.
Congress reports on public ethics
- Preventing corruption and promoting public ethics at local and regional levels
[ English | Armenian ] - Conflicts of interest at local and regional levels
[ English | Armenian ] - Making public procurement transparent at local and regional levels
[ English | Armenian ] - Transparency and open government
[ English | Armenian ] - Administrative resources and fair elections: a practical guide for local and regional politicians and public officials
[ English | Armenian ] - Fighting nepotism with local and regional authorities
[ English | Armenian ] - The protection of whistleblowers: Challenges and opportunities for local and regional government
[ English | Armenian ] - European Code of Conduct for all persons involved in Local and Regional governance
[ English | Armenian ]
Handbook on open local government and public ethics
This handbook aims to support local and regional authorities in their efforts to make communities more open, ethical and citizen-oriented. It provides practical guidance on transparency policies and citizen participation mechanisms, includes a concise assessment of the most prevalent corruption risks in the country and incorporates actual examples of best practices.
bE-Open
bE-Open has been developed by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in the framework of its co-operation activities. This online tool, launched in 2021, aims to support all local and regional governance actors in their efforts to improve the quality of local democracy in their villages, cities, and regions, as well as any citizen interested in public ethics, accountability, transparency and citizen participation.
The Community of Practice on political integrity and ethics in local governance in Armenia
Only available in English
Svetislav PAUNOVIĆ
Project Co-ordinator
Co-operation Activities Unit
Tel.: + 33 (0)3 90 21 41 05
E-mail: svetislav.paunovic@coe.int