Athens, 12–13 June 2025

ReSPA enriched the international conference “Artificial Intelligence in the Public Administration Environment”, hosted by the National Center for Public Administration and Local Government (EKDDA) in Athens, Greece.

The conference brought together representatives from public administration institutes of Greece, Slovenia, Cyprus, Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro, providing a vibrant platform for dialogue on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming public services. The event explored how AI can enhance policy-making, support innovation, and build more citizen-centric public administrations across the region.

ReSPA’s Programme Coordinator, Genti Xhaxhiu, actively contributed to the discussions by:

• Presenting the state of play of AI in public administration across the Western Balkans,
• Highlighting good practices and lessons learned from ReSPA’s network,
• Showcasing regional programmes supporting digital transformation and innovation.

The conference agenda focused on several key areas:

• Digital Skills in Education – including the presentation of award-winning EKDDA projects emphasizing collaboration, co-creation, and experiential learning for digital governance;
• Strategic Foresight and Planning – featuring contributions from the Special Secretariat for Long-Term Planning of the Greek Government;
• AI and Creativity in the Public Sector – with interventions from the National Documentation Center, University of West Attica, Ministry of Digital Governance, and University of the Peloponnese.

As a continuation of previous joint activities, EKDDA and ReSPA will collaborate to deliver a hands-on practical workshop on strategic foresight in the public sector by the end of 2025. The workshop will aim to equip public servants from the Western Balkans with the tools and methodologies needed to anticipate future trends, navigate complexity, and develop forward-looking public policies.

ReSPA extends its appreciation to EKDDA for the excellent organization of the event and for fostering an inclusive and forward-looking regional dialogue on the transformative role of AI in public administration.