Empowering local in building capacities for the Western Balkans local governments on the EU integration is designed in a structured/longer-term manner, aimed at enhancing the capacities of local civil servants to effectively tackle challenges associated with the EU accession process. In addition to specific knowledge, this programme would simultaneously boost transversal skills (communication, negotiation, and similar).

Within the framework of the available funds, this initiative could, pending the agreement of identified partners and the interest of the participants, grow into a program that would be composed of the following main elements:

• Launching workshop (15-16 April 2024, Tirana, Albania);
• 4 learning modules;
• Study visit to relevant EU MS authorities;
• Final workshop

Tailored for selected local-level civil servants engaged in the EU accession process, negotiators, and heads of Negotiation Groups for Chapter 22: Regional Cohesion Policy and Coordination of Structural Funds in WBs (where they are appointed) or respective colleagues in ReSPA members where there are still no official appointments, central administration institutions/bodies dealing with local administrations, the programme will be implemented during 2024-2025.

In this initiative, ReSPA is partnering with NALAS, the European Committee of Regions, OCED/SIGMA, NALED, GiZ and the Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

The kick-off workshop in Tirana will focus on supporting local authorities in their endeavours to develop capacities needed for full utilization of EU opportunities and meeting the EU requirements, by discussing about:

• Local government`s role in the EU;
• Principles of Public Administration;
• Access to EU funds;
• The impact of EU legislation at the local level, etc.

The workshop will also provide an overview of activities and plans of all relevant partners that are supporting/will support local authorities in the above areas of interest.

Based on these 2-day discussions, areas needing prompt support in capacity development will be identified as a base for 4 learning modules to be organized during 2024 and 2025 (subject to resource availability).

These activities will be strengthened further with the organization of a Study Visit (subject to resource availability) to relevant EU MS authorities, providing opportunities for exchanging ideas, best practices, and expertise between European and Western Balkan colleagues and would lead to establishing valuable new networks between peers.