Almost half of the Latvian municipalities have already started working towards providing citizens and businesses with a single access point that offers high quality public services. The survey found, moreover, that 11 municipalities are working well towards achieving the one-stop-shop principle in Riga, Jūrmala, Liepaja, Ventspils, Jelgava, Jēkabpils and Rezekne city, as well in Tukums, Dobeles, Ilūkstes and Gulbenes municipality.
The MRDLG's proposed solution - the one-stop-shop principle for local government - allows citizens and businesses to receive services electronically from the comfort of their place. Services will be easily accessible, saving people time and reducing transportation costs.
The key benefits of the one-stop shop service - according to the State Secretary of MRDLG, Laimdota Straujuma - are the following:
- transparency in the public administration;
- regional development;
- increased satisfaction of the public with the work of the government.
Commenting on this, Mrs. Straujuma added: "This will help the implementation of the public administration reform, the streamlining of governmental functions and the integration of public administration (...)."
Citizens may be confused about where to go to get the necessary advice or certificates, as these may be given in various different public bodies; it is often the case that a person has to visit various institutions or travel to another municipality in order to be served.
The MRDLG believes that the introduction of a single one-stop-shop principle would enhance service accessibility for citizens and businesses and significantly reduce administrative costs, for example, through common service facilities and by implementing joint economic measures. The MRDLG encourages all municipalities to set up service centres, which will provide services both remotely and on-site.
Through remote call centres or the www.latvija.lv portal or municipal and institutional websites, electronic services will be provided and will be made easily available to all citizens across the country. On-site services will be available in major urban areas - in cities, in municipality administrative centres or in any geographical unit.
As for the on-site service centres, they will be adapted to citizens according to service requests and a number of persons; the working hours as well as the security for each centre will be adjusted accordingly.
The MRDLG proposes to organise in a uniform manner the single system for the provision of remote and on-site services in accordance with the administrative and territorial division of local government.
Further information:
- Original Press Release - Ministry of Regional Development and Local Government of the Republic of Latvia (in Latvian)
- latvija.lv (in English, Latvian and Russian)
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Quelle/Source: epractice, 19.10.2010
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