Public consultations on the draft law concerning the Central Register of Contracts of Public Finance Sector Units will run until April 23, 2025. This draft has been included in the list of legislative and program works of the Council of Ministers under number UD197, and the full text is available on the website of the Government Legislation Centre.
The Central Register of Contracts (CRU) is a much-needed and long-awaited tool to increase transparency in public finances and to enable civic oversight of public sector spending. That’s why the Institute for Public Finance welcomes the launch of legislative work on implementing the CRU and has joined the group of organizations participating in the public consultation process.
On April 11, we took part in a conference organized by the Ministry of Finance, titled “The Central Register of Contracts as a Tool for Transparency in Public Life: Plans and Challenges.” The main aim of the event was to start a broader discussion on the role of the CRU in building transparency and public trust in institutions.
Contract Transparency Is the Key to Trust — What Do the Studies Say?
During the discussion, questions were raised about whether the CRU would truly boost public trust in government. We presented findings from our research, which clearly show how much value citizens place on transparency:
-
93% of Poles believe that transparent contracts by local governments will increase trust in local authorities.
-
94% say contract transparency at the national level will boost trust in central government.
-
89% of citizens would like free access to contracts and invoices of public sector entities.
Objections to the 10,000 PLN Threshold
At the conference, we also raised concerns about the current version of the draft law. In particular, we are worried about the proposed increase in the publication threshold for contracts to 10,000 PLN. In our view, this would significantly reduce the amount of data available and undermine the core idea of the register as a tool for real social oversight and for financial transparency and accountability.
Poles Want Transparency!
Our research shows that 91% of citizens support the CRU. Full transparency is the foundation of trust in the state’s financial management. Learn more about the CRU and our campaign: [Click here to learn more about the #TAKdlaCRU project!]
