The initial concept of ReSPA was developed with the objective to boost regional co-operation in the field of public administration, strengthening administrative capacity and developing human resources in line with the principles of the European Administrative Space (see NISPAcee's Reference Guide for Horizontal Integration, as well as Sigma Paper No. 23, Preparing Public Administrations for the European Administrative Space). In the SAp perspective, ReSPA is one of the mechanisms through which Countries and Entities have agreed to develop regional co-operation in the perspective of, eventually, joining the European Union (EU). This initiative is supported by the European Commission (EC).
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The ultimate goal is to help the participating Countries and Entities meet the Copenhagen and Madrid criteria, a set of benchmarks used to determine whether a country is ready for EU membership. By helping to improve public administration, the school will have an indirect influence on enhancing the rule of law and transparency. |
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The knowledge and experience gained will be shared through different electronic and more classical media. Gradually, ReSPA will not only become a training provider, but become the nucleus of a network of the existing schools of Public administration in the Region and play an advisory role in improving the performance of national administrations. |
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The idea of such an institution where civil servants from seven different administrative systems will get training is a unique historical endeavour. It was originally proposed at the EU's 2003 summit in Thessaloniki. The conclusions and recommendations in the feasibility study in 2004 allowed a first group of experts to work on the initial steps of ReSPA in 2005. On 2 May 2006, the ReSPA Protocol of Co-operation was signed at Ministerial level between the countries and entities of the region, under the auspices of the EC Commissioner Rehn, showing a high degree of commitment and ownership of all regional stake-holders and of the EC for the long-term development of ReSPA. The first ReSPA training activity took place in co-operation with the Civil Servants Agency, in Skopje, in November 2006. |
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Following the experts’ recommendations, a phased approach was adopted for the establishment of ReSPA: Phase 1, started as of 1 November 2006 and will last about two years. During this phase, the European Commission is chairing the Steering committee composed of delegates form the seven Countries and Entities of the region. Based on the experience capitalised in the Sigma programme, the OECD has been asked to assist the Chair during this first phase. ReSPA’s work programme will consist of not only organising seminars for public administration professionals from across the Western Balkans region, but also to develop its own institutional and management set-up with the objective of establishing the School in the Western Balkans Region at the beginning of Phase 2. Finally, in Phase 3, from 2010 onward, ReSPA might develop into a more comprehensive model combining both academic education and professional training dimensions. |
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The European Commission has earmarked budgetary assistance for ReSPA for 2007 through the CARDS Programme, and intends to allocate further resources through the IPA programme for 2008. The EC financial support to ReSPA is to be understood as launch aid, and not as a permanent financial support since ReSPA’s long term financing will be provided for mainly by the Countries and entities of the Region. |
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This website will evolve together with ReSPA and is developed to facilitate access to ReSPA resources, interlink existing schools of PA in the Region and in the EU, and promote transparency in the functioning of ReSPA.
José Antonio Torres Lacasa
European Commission
Chair of the Steering Committee
Further contacts
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