Abstract

The improvement of communication between the public administration and citizens cannot be restricted solely to the functioning of the Offices for Relations with the Public (Uffici per le Relazioni con il Pubblico, URPs); it also requires a simplification of bureaucratic language. The creation of the URPs has highlighted the differences between the tasks and aims of these offices and the press offices, and changes have been made which should enhance relationships with the public, knowledge of administrative processes, and dialogue among offices in the same administrative sector. Simplifying bureaucratic language should make the public administration effectively accessible and trasparent for all citizens. As shown by the experience of countries that have already simplified the language used by their bureaucracies, the result is not only improved relationships between citizens and administration but also economic advantages deriving from the reduction of formularies, of errors and of verification times. The annual report of the Trento URP is attached to the essay as an appendix.