Abstract

Communication between the public administration and citizens is imperative; it cannot be sporadic, nor can it be propagandistic, and it must be clear, concise and informative. In order to favour the participation, access, information and communication of citizens, the opening of Offices for Relation with the Public is envisaged in municipal buildings. It is hoped that upward flows of information (from the communes to the regional administrations and the state) within the public administration will thus be matched by downward "restitution" flows. In Lombardy, the initial surge in the creation of these Offices, following approval of the legislative decree of 1993, has slowed down. The final part of the essay describes the information system for local autonomous administrations created by the Lombardy Region and illustrates its essential features (property, membership system, architecture, directions of development).