The purpose of the hearings and public information procedures is to obtain the opinion of citizens who have rights and legitimate interests affected by a normative project already drafted, either directly or through the organizations or associations that represent them, as well as to incorporate any additional contributions that may be made by other interested persons or entities.

In this regard, article 133 of Law 39/2025, of 1 October, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations, in relation to article 26.6 of Law 50/1997, of 27 November, of the Government, provides that, without prejudice to the consultation prior to the elaboration of the text, when a rule affects the rights or legitimate interests of the people, the competent management center must publish this text on the corresponding web portal in order to give audience to the affected citizens and collect any contributions that may be made.

Likewise, the opinion of those organizations or associations recognized by law that group or represent the persons whose rights or legitimate interests may be affected and whose purposes are directly related to the content of the norm may be requested directly.

The Open Government Forum, created by Order HFP/134/2018, of February 15, constitutes the institutional space for structured dialogue between Public Administrations and civil society in Spain. Its mission is to channel proposals, debate action plans and share good practices, in coherence with the constitutional values of participation, political pluralism and improvement of democratic quality, as well as with the principles of transparency, accountability and citizen participation that inspire Spain’s accession to the Alliance for Open Government (OGP).

The IV Open Government Plan (2020–2024) was already co-created through the Forum, ensuring the active participation of Public Administrations —at their state, regional and local levels— and organized civil society.

Following the same methodology, the process of elaboration of the Fifth Open Government Plan (2025–2029) was also developed through the Forum, combining phases of active listening, public consultation and deliberative workshops. This approach allowed citizens’ proposals to be debated, prioritized and transformed into concrete commitments, thus reinforcing the collaborative and pluralistic nature of the Forum as a key instrument for the construction of open public policies.

On October 6, 2025, the Plenary of the Forum approved the V Open Government Plan. With this approval, a window of opportunity is opened not only to proceed with the renewal of the Forum, as established by the regulation that regulates it and in accordance with the standards of the OGP, but also to reinforce and improve its operation. This is an opportune moment to consolidate the Forum as a more inclusive, effective and representative space, in the interest of promoting the active participation of civil society and ensuring a plural environment for democratic dialogue.

Commitment 1 of the Fifth Plan, focused on the strengthening of participation and civic space, incorporates measure 1.3.1, which expressly contemplates the improvement of the Open Government Forum. This recognizes its essential role as a space for co-creation and structured dialogue between institutions and civil society, and as a guarantor of a plural and open environment for citizen participation.

Publication: 9 March 2026
Deadline: until March 27, 2026

Citizens, organizations and associations that wish to do so may submit their comments until March 27, 2026 through the following form:

https://forma.administracionelectronica.gob.es/form/open/corp/4908aee0-5e7d-4b7e-91e6-24cea9489d42/IYGE

In the comments that are presented, it will be necessary to record the identification data of the natural or legal person (name, surname, NIF) as well as the full name of the organization or association that represents, where appropriate.

The normative initiative aims to update and strengthen the regulation of the Open Government Forum, currently regulated by Order HFP/134/2018, of February 15. Although the project is not included in the Annual Normative Plan, its elaboration is considered consistent with the principles of good regulation included in the plan, and responds to the fulfillment of Commitment 1 of the V Plan of Open Government, focused on the strengthening of participation and civic space. In particular, measure 1.3.1 provides for the improvement of the Open Government Forum as a key instrument for structured dialogue with civil society, recognizing its essential role in the co-creation of public policies and in the defense of a plural and open civic space for participation.

Likewise, in order to provide the Forum with a more solid legal framework and in accordance with the standards of the Alliance for Open Government (OGP), it is necessary to resort to article 22 of Law 40/2015, on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector, which establishes the creation of collegiate bodies through royal decree. In this way, the Forum will be able to be covered in the appropriate legal form, strengthening its institutional legitimacy and ensuring its functioning as a stable space for participation and dialogue between Public Administrations and civil society.