18 – 20 December 2023, Sofia, Bulgaria

Public servants from the Western Balkans had three exciting and learning days in Sofia, Bulgaria. ReSPA, through the Horizontal Facility programme, enabled them to attend the programme of the Winter University "Learning to Address Tomorrow's Administrative Challenges in Europe ", 18 – 20 December 2023. The programme was designed and delivered by ReSPA partners: the Institute of Public Administration of Bulgaria and L’Ecole de Management de la Francophonie.

Teams from North Macedonia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Hercegovina, through the programme, have addressed a variety of relevant topics, from digital transformation of the state, innovation as a public policy tool, public sector career paths, reporting to the decision-makers and leaders in general, public speaking, rule of law, etc.

With its comprehensive curriculum, skilled facilitation, and excellent organisation, the Institute of Public Administration of Bulgaria showed its professionalism and commitment to strengthening the capacities of public servants from the region. Throughout the programme, steadfast dedication, prompt execution, and meticulousness were evident; all these, greatly improved our delegation members' overall educational experience. The knowledge they have gained from this training will help strengthen their capacities as civil servants to handle the challenges that lie ahead as future EU member states.

Recognising the value of civil servants' continuous education and learning, ReSPA will continue to facilitate a greater number of civil servants to take advantage of the insights and expertise provided throughout this type of training. The ongoing access to similar training programmes is essential for the continued professional development of civil servants and their networking with peers from the region. During 2023, ReSPA has provided more than 20 scholarships to public servants from the Western Balkans to attend programmes designed and delivered by different ReSPA partner institutions throughout Europe.