The Global Impact of Open Data

Chapter 4. Open Contracting and Procurement in Slovakia

Establishing Trust in Government Through Open Data

By Ali Clare, David Sangokoya, Stefaan Verhulst and Andrew Young

Summary: Corruption has been a long-standing problem in Slovakia, especially in the area of public procurement. In January 2011, Slovakia introduced a regime of unprecedented openness, requiring that all documents related to public procurement (including receipts and contracts) be published online, and making the validity of public contracts contingent on their publication. These reforms appear to have had a dramatic effect on corruption and, equally important for the business climate, perceptions of corruption. More generally, they are among the chief pillars of an effort—within Slovakia and the European Union at large—to reform governance and make it more responsive, transparent and efficient.

Dimension of Impact: Improving Government—Tackling Corruption and Transparency

Key Takeaways:

• Slovakia’s 2011 legislation to enforce greater transparency in public procurement stands as one of “the most dramatic transparency reforms in the world.”¹ It improves on an earlier Freedom of Information (FOI) law and builds on successful transparency efforts at the local level, in particular in two municipalities. The success of the national law suggests the extent to which national and regional policies can be positively influenced by small-scale, local efforts.

• Among the most important aspects of Slovakia’s law is a move ...