Govt scores under half of goals

Photo: Peeter Langovits

In 2013 about to end, ministries failed to finish every fifth task in work schedule – largely due to EU budget ratification stalling.

Of government level tasks, confirmed for 2013 this spring, over half were left unfinished. On ministries’ level, failure was the lot of every fifth of objectives. Among the brakes, delayed ratification of European Union’s fresh budget played a role. 

«As a year starts, ministries set timelines quite ambitious,» explained Märt Loite, deputy strategy director at Government Office. «At the same time, lion’s share of the tasks are planned for the end of the year, and thus – late in being fulfilled – they get pushed over into the new year.»

The statistics are concrete: of tasks requiring governmental decisions in work schedule, 45 per cent were fulfilled by the end of this year; in 2012, the result was 52 per cent, in 2011 – 50 per cent. All in all, 46 tasks were completed of the total of 102; among these, 25 were completed on time, 21 went over deadlines. 

The explanations why 56 tasks remain half finished fall as follows: 29 tasks were unfulfilled due to lack of administrative capacity; 26 due to dissenting opinions among parties; and one (granting schoolchildren up to €130 of yearly hobby education money) remains undecided due to lack of money.

For instance: due to lack of administrative capacity, the strategy Integrating Estonia 2020 (Lõimuv Eesti 2020) has still not been presented to the government; approval of the so-called green books of alcohol and tobacco policy is running late; transport investments plan till 2020 is delayed; activity plan for Estonia’s upcoming EU presidency only reaches cabinet in mid-January (the deadline was 4^th quarter, 2013).

Things are much better with tasks planned for ministry level: of these, 78 per cent were completed by year’s end. Last year’s percentage was 58, in 2011 – 63 per cent. Of the 21unfinished tasks of the year, 16 drag on due to lack of administrative capacity; on four occasions work was hindered by dissenting opinions; on one occasion lack of money was the problem.

Of the 75 ministry goals scored, 65 were on time. Ten were late.

According to Märt Loite, there were several external reasons behind this year’s unpunctualities. «For instance, the ratification of the new long-term financial framework was late in being ratified by European Parliament, leading to domestic postponement of preparations for use of fresh structural funds.»

«For similar reasons, planning and development of Rail Baltica were delayed also,» noted Mr Loite. «However, draft amendment for Pre-school Child Care Institutions Act, for instance, does reach government at the very beginning of the new year.»

Of the government’s greatest successes of the year, Mr Loite underlined the completion of various vital development plans; regarding legislation, several long-term audits were completed, including those concerning construction and planning power, penal power and of maintenance of law and order.

Of major reforms, ratification of performance contracts to be entered between education ministry and universities might be mentioned.

Government Office is also keeping score regarding fulfilment of coalition agreement between Reform Party and IRL. By end of 2013, 15 per cent of its 511 clauses have been totally fulfilled; 26 per cent have been fulfilled partially. 46 per cent are in the process of being fulfilled.