The recently developed draft ReSPA study provides a comparative analysis of the integrated planning systems in Western Balkan administrations. It covers the planning system's strategic, legal, and institutional aspects. This analysis thoroughly explains public administration institutions' role in improving the integrated planning process, provides benchmarks from the EU countries and highlights good practices from the Western Balkans. Therefore, in view of the importance of integrated policy planning and the latest regional overview on this topic, ReSPA is organizing a regional conference devoted to the presentation of its draft findings and discussion on the potential actions and solutions for the improvement of the systems and practices of strategic planning in Western Balkans.

The Conference is organized in close cooperation with experts from OECD/SIGMA, leveraging on the broader perspective and additional aspects of the interconnection of policy and budgetary planning processes.

The strategic planning processes function in different countries in different ways. Obviously, the workable solutions depend on both political and administrative culture, traditions, size and government model, as well as administrative capacity to deliver. Having all that in mind, there are key components that need to be in place for the system to function:

• Legal framework that sets the rules of the game and provides framework and guidance to all bodies involved in the strategic planning process;
• Coordinating institutions that have a mandate to steer and guide the process;
• Key planning documents enabling the translation of the vision into whole-of-the Government plans, being these plans annual, multi-annual or long term;
• Defined and manageable sectoral planning system that enables linking the sectoral plans with central plans and is inclusive;
• Necessary minimum capacity at the central level and the ministries to keep the system running and constantly improve it.