Abstract
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The present study examines the most significant structural changes affecting state administration in Hungary (2010-2019). In 2010 two processes had the most important influence on structural government changes: the European integration (Hungary joined the EU in 2004) and the governmental philosophy, the concept of the Neo-Weberian State.
The aim of the Hungarian government is the creation of a ’Good State’ which serves the needs of individuals, communities, and enterprises in the framework and interests of public good in the most adequate way and protects values and interests which promote competitiveness and development.
The objective of the study is to approach processes in public administration between 2010 and 2019 from a public policy point of view. Public policy programmes are governmental activities that affect the lives of citizens. The government’s definite aim for 2020 is to have Hungarian public administration with professional, national, ethical, and motivated staffs work in an organized, consistent and transparent structure, applying modern and customer-friendly procedures available for anyone.
The anticipated trends of territorial administration development by 2020 are included in public policy strategic documents with designated intervention areas, which intend to create a public administration that is highly professional, efficient with short administrative deadlines, thus creating service-oriented state operation enjoying the confidence of the public.
The strategic governmental goal meets the expectations and challenges of the European Union towards Hungary to modernise its public administration and to increase the use of modern information and communication technologies (ICT) in the interactions among the state institutions themselves and between the state institutions and citizens.
In methodological terms, besides the traditional legal-normative approach the empirical work is based on information obtained from three sources: interviews with civil servants in districts, documentation, and statistical data. The research focuses on the collection of information relating to the operation of the Hungarian public administration system.
The survey presents practical recommendations to strengthen the way and manner of decision-making processes in district administration, including opportunities for co-ordination and collaboration between the citizens, enterprises and public administration employees.
The state reform resulted in comprehensive changes in the public-law, political, and organisational division of labour of the central and territorial units. The study concludes that further efforts are needed to transform public administration processes and workflows into client-oriented, integrated, and efficient territorial public administration which is simpler, more transparent and more accountable to the citizens, thereby reaching the concept of the ’Good State’. The further reduction of administrative burdens, the simplification of administrative procedures, and the establishment of the necessary digital infrastructure could improve the access to administrative services for the citizens, enterprises and public institutions. In the field of digital competences, the most important task is to develop the digital skills of citizens, enterprises, and public administration employees.
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