In line with the EU’s political priorities of speed, coherence, and simplification, ReSPA is organizing a regional peer exchange that will provide a timely platform to explore how these principles are being translated into tangible reforms across the Western Balkans. Anchored in the EU’s “Simpler and Faster Europe” agenda - which sets ambitious targets, including a 25% reduction in regulatory burden and 11 flagship initiatives aimed at cutting red tape - the event will delve into experiences demonstrating how simplifying policies and engaging citizens and businesses can enhance competitiveness, innovation, and trust in public institutions.

Drawing on EU Member States’ efforts in implementation and enforcement - and recognizing that shared responsibility is essential - the webinar will highlight effective tools, practices, and lessons that help ensure simplification measures are not only adopted but also sustained through robust enforcement and collaborative governance.

In 2024, the European Commission approved the Reform Agendas for Western Balkan administrations, marking an important milestone in the implementation of the Growth Plan. These documents strongly emphasized the intersection of digitalization and the simplification of public services and procedures. However, the 2024 SIGMA Public Administration Report for the Western Balkans noted limited efforts to systematically plan and identify simplification opportunities during policymaking, while also warning that delays in digitalization - particularly regarding interoperability - may significantly hinder the ability of Western Balkan administrations to advance administrative simplification.

Administrative burden remains one of the key obstacles to improving public sector efficiency. It directly affects access to public services, economic growth, the adoption of innovative technologies, integrity, and transparency. Reducing bureaucratic complexity is therefore at the heart of administrative simplification policies.

The event will promote EU and OECD/SIGMA recommendations for a quality policymaking approach to administrative simplification, providing the basis for an exchange between public administration representatives and business associations. Good practices will be presented, including Serbia’s E-papir programme (2023–25) and Kosovo’s* Policy on Administrative Burden Reduction (2022–27). A second perspective will be offered by representatives of Western Balkan business support associations. The Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, a member of the WB6 Chamber Investment Forum, has recently presented a business climate survey that also examines access to public services. This will be complemented by insights from the EU Chambers network, which has published recommendations in Eurochambres’ 2024 proposals for reducing administrative burdens.

Objectives

• Explore EU-level strategies on simplification, enforcement, and implementation, and discuss relevant OECD/SIGMA recommendations.
• Raise awareness among Western Balkan administrations regarding policy options focused on administrative burden reduction and their intersection with digitalization.

Representatives of public bodies responsible for public administration reform, public finance management, administrative justice, tax authorities, public procurement, municipal governments, as well as representatives of Western Balkan chambers of commerce and the business community.