16-18 October 2025, Florence 

ReSPA highlights the achievement of Marcela Kërëku, a senior civil servant from Albania’s Department of Public Administration (DoPA), who successfully participated in the Executive Training Seminar “Unboxing the Commission: Engaging Effectively with the EU Executive”, held at the European University Institute (EUI).

Marcela’s participation was made possible through a short-term scholarship funded by ReSPA, within the Italy -Western Balkans Capacity Building Programme, supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. She earned this opportunity as the winner of ReSPA’s Op-Ed competition, which recognized her vision and dedication to advancing excellence in public administration.

Over the three days of immersive learning, participants gained valuable insights into the European Commission’s policymaking processes, institutional values, and engagement mechanisms. The programme featured prominent speakers, including Prof. José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, offering first-hand perspectives on EU governance and decision-making.

ReSPA congratulates Marcela for this well-deserved recognition and celebrates her success as a testament to the transformative impact of regional capacity-building initiatives. Her experience reflects ReSPA’s continued commitment to empowering public servants across the Western Balkans and fostering a more effective, transparent, and European-oriented public administration.