As part of the ongoing Ireland for EU Enlargement programme, ReSPA, in cooperation with the Irish Institute of Public Administration (IPA), delivered an online webinar focused on strengthening leadership capacities for EU accession processes.

The session, led by Susan Duggan (IPA), introduced participants to the concept of the “Accession Mindset”- a leadership framework that views EU accession not merely as a technical or administrative exercise, but as a comprehensive transformation journey requiring adaptive, values-driven leadership. Central to this approach is the principle of Determined Humility, which combines a strong commitment to reform objectives with openness to learning, collaboration, and inclusive decision-making.

Public servants from Albania, Montenegro, Moldova, and Ukraine engaged in an in-depth discussion on:

• The six core beliefs underpinning the Accession Mindset
• The role of leadership in driving change within complex institutional environments
• Practical strategies for working across institutional silos, policy boundaries, and diverse stakeholder groups to build trust and sustain reform momentum

This webinar represents an important milestone within the programme’s structured learning pathway. The next phase will continue with a Masterclass in February, further deepening the Accession Mindset concept, and will culminate in a Capstone Conference, bringing together key insights, lessons learned, and future perspectives on leadership for EU enlargement.

The Ireland for EU Enlargement programme continues to reaffirm the value of peer learning, international cooperation, and leadership development in supporting effective and sustainable EU accession reforms.