The first results indicate that agencies were able to accomplish the targets established in performance contracts. Contracts improved dialogue between agencies and ministries. They also increased the provision of information to the public and made government actions more transparent. The first quality awards were recently presented. The objectives were to set examples by highlighting best performance, to create a legitimate framework for rewarding excellence, and to increase awareness for quality.
Evaluation is carried out by an independent body.
Pilot projects More substantive changes are being introduced in the regulatory field. In June 1997 the Danish Minister for Finance set up, at the request of Parliament, a committee on the relationship between politicians and civil servants. The task of the committee is to investigate to which extent civil servants carry out political functions and to what extent civil servants are appointed on the basis of political criteria. Traditionally, the Danish public administration has not employed politically appointed civil servants. However, successive governments have employed, for example, press secretaries with party affiliations.