The
Open Doors Campaign
is an initiative led by Romanian business associations
and Chambers of Commerce, which promote the passage
of specific laws to ensure public input in the process
of government, freedom of information, fiscal accountability
and transparency. These laws include but are not limited
to the establishment of public hearings and testimony,
access to public information, establishment of fiscal
impact statements to assess the fiscal and social impacts
of legislation on the business community, and the limiting
of government's ability to pass laws by emergency ordinance
versus Parliamentary procedure. Studies conducted by
associations such as the World Bank, the European Union
and USAID have all pointed toward the establishment
of open and transparent processes in government as an
important step toward economic stability and the growth
of the private sector.
A recent study, conducted by J.E. Austin & Associates
for USAID, states, "…non-transparent procedures in Romania
are diminishing the country's competitiveness as they
reduce its attractiveness as in investment destination."
This being the case, a group of business associations
and Chambers of Commerce are urging government to encourage
continued investment by taking the visible step of ensuring
citizen input and transparency.
The Open Doors Campaign is designed to develop
the foundation on which other business initiatives are
built. As part of the Open Doors Campaign, two business
sector coalitions have created legislative agendas and
are calling on the Romanian government to address issues
within the tourism and information technology sectors.