30–31 October 2025, Podgorica, Montenegro

As part of the ongoing capacity-building programme funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, ReSPA, in cooperation with the National School of Administration (SNA) of Italy, hosted a two-day training titled “Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration – The Art of Prompting.” The workshop is a continuation of ReSPA’s and SNA’s joint efforts to equip civil servants from the Western Balkans with cutting-edge skills for responsible and effective use of AI in governance.

H.E. Andreina Marsella, Ambassador of Italy to Montenegro, praised ReSPA’s long-standing dedication to connecting the Western Balkans with EU Member States, particularly with Italy, emphasising the success achieved within this programme.

Director Handjiska-Trendafilova emphasised at the opening the growing importance of AI in public administration and the need for regional administrations to adopt innovative tools responsibly and transparently. She underlined that initiatives like this one exemplify ReSPA’s mission to connect Western Balkan public administrations with EU best practices and strengthen their inclusion in the European Administrative Space.

In his address, Professor Mario Pireddu, Associate Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Tuscia and SNA lecturer, outlined the training’s objectives and methodology, combining theoretical sessions with practical, hands-on exercises.

Throughout the two days, participants explored a wide range of topics — from the fundamentals of AI and its typologies (rule-based systems, predictive models, and generative systems) to the role of algorithms in decision-making, efficiency versus accountability, and key challenges such as transparency, bias, and explainability.

A major focus of the workshop was on prompt engineering, a crucial emerging skill in the effective use of generative AI. Participants learned how to design clear and context-aware prompts for administrative purposes - including the drafting of memos, circulars, briefing notes, and press releases - while ensuring ethical use and maintaining an institutional tone and style.

The interactive sessions, encouraged participants to experiment with AI tools through group work, peer feedback, and evaluation based on responsibility and quality criteria. The final session synthesized key prompting principles, equipping participants with practical guidance for responsible AI integration into public administration processes.

Through this activity, ReSPA continues to act as a bridge of knowledge between EU member states and the Western Balkans, supporting regional administrations in leveraging innovation responsibly. The collaboration with the Italian SNA and the continued support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation demonstrate a shared commitment to strengthening administrative capacities and fostering digital transformation grounded in ethical standards and accountability.