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The next step was to find out, based on the country reports and the remarks from the national specialists—the ombudsman coordinators in each country—what the position of the country is. This positioning was done based on the information we received in the frame of this research and it is a theoretical position which may be subject to discussion. The idea of presenting the results in this way makes it possible to have a discussion within and between the member states on the developments and the shifts of the principles of good governance. The theoretical positioning of countries is repeated for each of the five groups of countries. That was done because we saw within these groups of countries some level of cultural and social coherence and, based on that idea, we think that such a comparison will stimulate the same discussion in and between countries. The discussion in practice will be centred around the following points: the institutions which apply good governance norms in relation to their functions, the developments of the concept by specification of principles of good governance, the form and binding effect of the specified principles (including the integrity principle), and the prevention of malgovernance (including corruption) by promoting good governance. In the coverall graphics we distinguish five phases of development of good governance: no concept, concept, concept principles, principles, and full principles. These five phases, shown in Figure 13.3 have been applied to the three dimensions of good governance: rule of law, democracy, and institutional structure.
Figure 13.3 Five phases of good governance
6. Cases about the Implementation of Good Governance Principles In the study, we paid attention to cases in different policy fields in the twenty-eight EU member states: public health, the economy, the environment, and education. This section offers an example from each of these policy fields. An example of good governance and public health policy is found in Austria. The aim of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Health is to create a high level of transparency and solve issues concerning health insurance.5 The SGI Network—an institution that reports and advises countries internationally on their good governance status in the core policies of the state6—has drawn up a report on the good governance status in Austria and concluded that Austrian health policies are some of the best in the world. The Network noted, however, that the healthcare system creates major inequalities for the population who cannot afford additional private health insurance. Another 5 6
<http://www.bmg.gv.at/cms/home/thema.html?channel=CH1013>. <http://www.sgi-network.org>.
