Today the French government is holding its second workshop on modernising "public action" (delivery of public policy), the first having taken place on 31 July. The most important topic is expected to be the "next stage of decentralisation," which will also be the theme of a government conference later this week, and of a bill to be tabled earlier next year in the Senate. Shifts in the distribution of responsibilities between levels of government, as well as local finance and investment reforms are on the agenda. A more general discussion on how to make the government more efficient will also be launched. The new policy should consider a landmark report on State Reform, commissioned in July by the Prime minister and filed last week by three General Inspectorates including the Inspection des Finances. This report finds that the General Review of Public Policies (RGPP) implemented since 2007 had generated savings of around 12 bn euros, with a reduction of the staff complement of around 3%. The new "renovation" policy is expected to take a less budgetary look, emphasize good HR management and extend to all three civil services (including local government and hospitals). Two new interministerial advisory bodies are planned dealing respectively with "renovation of public action" and "reinforced budget monitoring."
These are crucial times in France: last week saw the first budget of the Ayrault government, which includes 10bn of savings but also 20bn of new taxes. A national discussion is ongoing on if and how much this budget can contribute to reducing the public debt which now stands at 91% of GDP, as predicted by the Audit Court July report.
These are crucial times in France: last week saw the first budget of the Ayrault government, which includes 10bn of savings but also 20bn of new taxes. A national discussion is ongoing on if and how much this budget can contribute to reducing the public debt which now stands at 91% of GDP, as predicted by the Audit Court July report.
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