24 September 2025, Podgorica, Montenegro

The Ministerial Conference on Capacity of Public Administrations for EU Integration and Beyond, organised by the European Commission with support from the SIGMA Programme, gathered ministers, high-level officials, and key partners from the Western Balkans, the European Commission, and the OECD to address the role of public administration reforms in the EU integration process.

The conference served as an important platform for ReSPA to engage directly with ministers from the region, representatives of the European Commission and the OECD, as well as other partners, to advance joint collaboration and strengthen regional efforts in public administration capacity building. Several ministers commended ReSPA’s continuous contribution to enhancing the skills and capacities of public administrations across the Western Balkans, noting the positive impact of its initiatives on fostering professional, efficient, and citizen-oriented governance.

During the ministerial roundtables, participants exchanged insights on the challenges of building administrative capacity and discussed best practices for effective governance, with a particular focus on top management and leadership in public administration.

On the margins of the conference, ReSPA representatives met with the Serbian Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Snežana Paunović, Assistant Minister for European Integration and International Cooperation, Mila Stanković, and Head of the Minister’s Cabinet, Aleksandra Mlađan.

Minister Paunović praised ReSPA’s role in strengthening public administrations in the Western Balkans, underlining that cooperation with ReSPA is of strategic importance for advancing European integration and public administration reform, as well as for improving institutional capacities and the quality of services for citizens.

ReSPA Director Maja Handjiska-Trendafilova reaffirmed readiness to elevate cooperation with Serbia, especially in the areas of public administration reform, civil service professionalisation, and modern management standards. She emphasised that Serbia has in ReSPA a reliable and strategic partner that will continue to support its reform processes.

Both sides agreed that joint efforts and new projects will deliver significant benefits for the citizens of Serbia and the wider region.