On 28 September in Ukraine as well as around the world the International Right to Know Day is celebrated. On this occasion the Global Movement for Budget Transparency, Accountability and Participation (BTAP) organized a Day of Action to raise awareness on the need to advance budget transparency, accountability and participation across the world.
In Ukraine the events of the Global Movement (BTAP) are coordinated by the Open Society Foundation (OSF). By opinion of the OSF experts, preparation of national 2014 budget has signs of the actual violation of the provisions of the Budget Code and the public, as in the previous years, remains aloof from the budget process.
To draw attention to issues related to the budget process and losses that are subject to the budgets of all levels because of their non-transparent formation and opaque decision-making and inefficient government programs the Open Society Foundation in August-September 2013 prepared:
1) the analytical report "Kyiv Budget 2012: Challenges and Opportunities for Future Fiscal Policy" (due to the implementation of a rational fiscal policy in the administration of only three items of revenue and expenditure (payment for land, rental of municipal property, procurement) can almost double the revenue side of the city budget . Consequently, Kyiv budget 2014 could have revenues at UAH 35-40 billion instead of UAH 21 billion in 2012-2013);
2) the article "The Naked King? ("Mirror Weekly", 30 August 2013), where you can find the arguments for the need to change fiscal policy at the national level and in the city of Kyiv;
3) the article "Follow the Money. Our Money!" ("Ukrainian Truth", 26 September 2013), where the need for budget transparency, accountability and participation in Ukraine is stressed and information about the relevant open letter to the leadership of the state and local governments on this occasion is given. Earlier this appeal was supported by the subqroup "Fight against Corruption" of the Ukrainian National Platform of the Civil Society Forum of the Eastern Partnership;
4) The project "Development of proposals for public policies in the Kyiv budget" (supported by the International Renaissance Foundation) investigates a series of target programs in Kyiv. The municipal target program aimed to support small and medium-sized businesses is recognized as such that did not improve the situation and business environment for SMEs in the capital city;
5) The proposals for changes in the Code of Good Practice in Fiscal Policy (International Monetary Fund) were prepared as well as abudget calendar and more.
The experts of the Open Society Foundation are ready to provide full support to government and civil society to ensure participation at all levels. We are ready to help the government and lawmakers to increase the effectiveness of decisions in the budget field.
The public finances of Ukraine have to become open and understandable!
