Questions/Answers
Question 1
Please describe the objective of the initiative introduced (200 words maximum)
The IES consists of a form of delivery, electronically and totally dematerialized, of declaratory obligations of an accounting, fiscal and statistical nature, which correspond to: the delivery of the annual accounting and tax information provided; to the recording of accountability; the provision of statistical information to the National Statistical Institute; the provision of information on annual accounting data for statistical purposes to the Banco de Portugal; statistical information to the General Directorate of Economic Activities. All the information that companies have to provide regarding their annual accounts is transmitted in a single moment and at a single point of contact, through the completion of approved template forms available at www.ies.gov.pt and www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt, submitted electronically.
From the Finance Portal, the information is transmitted to the Ministry of Justice (MJ), and it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice to make this information available to the other entities to which these obligations are fulfilled.
Question 2
Please explain how the initiative is linked to the category and criteria selected (100 words maximum)
"Only Once Principle" Implementation;
Dematerialization, simplification and debureaucratization of acts and procedures;
Reducing costs for citizens and the State;
Integrated approaches of Portuguese public sector institutions;
Development of efficient, effective and accountable public institutions;
Promotion of digital transformation in public sector institutions;
Provision of service provision on a level playing field for all companies. Strengthening mechanisms to combat money laundering and terrorist financing through the granting of direct access to the Database of Annual Accounts by entities competent for criminal investigation ;
Increase in the quantity, quality and timeliness of information available on the Portuguese market;
Increased economic transparency
Question 3
Please describe in what ways the initiative is contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs. Specify which SDG(s) it is relevant to. (100 words maximum)
The availability of the IES contributes to the achievement of the objectives of sustainable economic development, innovation, increasing the effectiveness of public institutions and promoting the partnership between public entities because it realizes the "Only Once Principle." Through a single point of delivery information is and is available for consultation by economic agents, criminal investigative bodies and government entities, promoting transparency, constituting an important tool to support decision-making in the definition of public policies, and organized crime. It is an indicator of economic development in that it allows a reliable assessment of the evolution of the economic market.
Question 4
The initiative must have positive impact on a group or groups of the population, especially the vulnerable (i.e. children, women, older persons, people with disabilities, etc.) within the context of your country or region. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant shortfall in governance, public administration or public service within the context of a given country or region. (200 words maximum)
The availability of the IES contributes to the achievement of the objectives of sustainable economic development, as it allows a reliable assessment of the evolution of the economic market. It also facilitates investment support by providing reliable data to the financial sector, which greatly facilitates access to credit by firms.
In this way it provides a transparent and sustainable business environment, favoring the attraction of investment and the creation and maintenance of jobs, constituting a factor to increase investor confidence.
Question 5
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (100 words maximum)
The IES is innovative because it led to the dematerialization of procedures, allowing the reduction of time and costs of context for companies and for the State. It led to the elimination of the need to spend tons of paper as well as to store it, allowing a large-scale contribution to a sustainable environmental policy, as well as freeing up archive space in administration services, contributing to a better use of space and to a less polluting environment, including better health conditions for citizens, both workers and users of public services.
b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (100 words maximum)
The IES is original and innovative because it broke with existing bureaucratic practices, creating a completely new and totally dematerialized information sharing system, unparalleled in any other previously existing procedure, at least in Portugal.
Question 6
Has the initiative been transferred and adapted to in other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions) to your organization’s knowledge? If yes, please explain (100 words maximum)
_Yes it can be transferred and adapted to in other contexts, namely in other countries because it is a model of partnership and concerted action by public sector entities that must be replicated both nationally and internationally for the undeniable benefits already mentioned.
Question 7
a. What resources (i.e. financial, human or others) were used to implement the initiative? (100 words maximum)
The design and implementation of the initiative involved the concerted action of the human resources of the national public partners involved (Institute of Registries and Notaries, Tax and Customs Authority, Bank of Portugal and National Statistical Institute), especially those in legal, technical and technological matters . Multidisciplinary teams were created to design the project, create its legal framework and develop the technological support solutions. In the scope of the design and implementation of the solution, representatives of companies and civil society whose activity is most directly related to the service created were heard.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (200 words maximum)
The availability of the IES service is self-sustaining, since the amounts charged for the provision and access to business information are sufficient to guarantee the maintenance of the service provision. As mentioned, the availability of this service, based on electronic and dematerialized means, can reduce costs for companies and the State, such as travel costs, human resources and paper and allows access to up-to-date and reliable business information, a condition investment and sustainable development
Question 8
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated either through internal or external evaluation?
Yes
The initiative is continuously monitored and evaluated internally, in particular by collecting and processing statistical information on the number of declarations made each year by companies, the number of means of proof and direct access to the Annual Accounts that centralizes the business information collected from the IES service.
b. Please describe the indicators that were used (100 words maximum)
The initiative is continuously monitored and evaluated internally, in particular by collecting and processing statistical information on the number of declarations made each year by companies, the number of means of proof and direct access to the Annual Accounts that centralizes the business information collected from the IES service.
c. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation (100 words maximum)
The statistical results collected are indicative of the high levels of use of the IES service, in a general total of .108 655 declarations provided by companies, since the service was made available and the issuance of a total of 229 612 annual accounts certificates.
Question 9
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what and how stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (200 words maximum)
The provision of the IES service resulted from the beginning of the permanent cooperation and partnership of the national public entities partners of the project (Registries and Notary Institute, Tax and Customs Authority, Bank of Portugal and National Statistics Institute). Each one of them contributes, according to its mission and attributions, to the design and implementation of the project, making available the human and technological resources defined as necessary. Only the serious and committed involvement, and supported by the governmental entities, of all these public entities and of the teams of work assigned by them, allowed the creation of the IES.
Question 10
Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (100 words maximum)
The creation and availability of the IES service allowed the Institute of Registries and Notaries to experience the benefits and social and economic impact of initiatives that result from a real and serious concerted action by public sector entities. The implementation of the IES also allowed the identification of the strengths and weaknesses of this concerted action, taken into consideration by this Institute, in the design and implementation of other initiatives that depend on the joint effort and the sharing of information among the entities of the Portuguese Public Administration.