Parliaments and evidence-based lawmaking in the Western Balkans
A comparative analysis of parliamentary rules, procedures and practice
Parliaments have a unique role in ensuring that adopted laws, regardless of who initiated
them, are evidence-based and fit-for-purpose. For the executive branch, laws are vital
instruments through which they deliver public policy. Governments therefore rely on
parliaments to scrutinise and adopt legislation in a timely, well-planned and co-ordinated
manner. Parliamentary scrutiny of government lawmaking and its role in ex post evaluation
of law implementation helps the legislature hold the executive to account. Evidence-based
lawmaking is especially critical to EU integration processes as they involve adoption
of many new laws. This paper reviews how laws are planned, initiated, prepared, scrutinised
and evaluated by the parliaments of six Western Balkan administrations. The report
discusses the concept of lawmaking within a parliamentary system of government. It
considers how parliaments and governments co-operate and co-ordinate their legislative
activities throughout the lawmaking cycle, providing a comparative analysis of existing
rules and procedures as well as lawmaking practices. A set of key findings and policy
recommendations are provided to support the Western Balkan administrations to plan
and implement future reforms.
Available from March 15, 2024
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