2 September 2026, Online

ReSPA officially launched the first cycle of its Regional Public Administration Mobility Programme – “Shaping the Future of Public Service – Together” with an online introductory and preparatory session bringing together participants from nine public administrations across the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership.

The Programme is one of ReSPA’s new flagship initiatives and was announced at the Meeting of Ministers of Public Administration held within the framework of the Berlin Process in Budva, Montenegro, in April 2026.

Inspired by the idea of an “Erasmus for civil servants”, the Programme creates opportunities for public servants to step outside their own institutional environments, learn directly from peers, experience reforms in practice and build lasting professional connections across borders.

Opening the session, ReSPA Director a.i. Jelena Mrdak underlined the importance of investing in people as the driving force behind public administration reform: “Public administration reform is ultimately driven by people. Our administrations become stronger when public servants have the opportunity to learn from one another, exchange experiences and build relationships based on trust. This Programme is about much more than mobility – it is about creating a community of connected and forward-looking professionals who can turn shared learning into stronger institutions, better reforms and tangible results for citizens.”

The first cycle brings together 30 civil servants from the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership and combines executive education, structured peer learning, job shadowing and institutional exchanges.

Through this learning-by-doing approach, participants will have the opportunity to explore how different administrations address common reform challenges, gain first-hand insight into practices that work, and consider how relevant solutions can be adapted to their own institutional contexts.

The Programme also has a strong European dimension. By strengthening professional networks, institutional capacities and cooperation across administrations, it aims to contribute to the development of more professional, resilient, citizen-oriented and future-ready public administrations aligned with European standards and values.

During the introductory session, ReSPA and its implementing partner, the College of Europe, presented the Programme’s methodology, key components, timeline and expected results. Participants were introduced to the roles of visiting and host administrations, individual learning objectives, knowledge-sharing expectations and the practical steps ahead.

A central part of the meeting was dedicated to the participants themselves. They presented their professional roles, areas of expertise, key institutional challenges and the knowledge and practices they would like to gain through the Programme. This first exchange also marked the beginning of a new regional professional community built around openness, peer learning and mutual trust.

Reflecting on the next steps, Filip Chaparoski, who leads the Programme on behalf of ReSPA, highlighted: “This first meeting marked the beginning of a shared learning journey – connecting public servants across administrations and turning regional cooperation into practical experience. The upcoming executive training at the College of Europe’s Bruges Campus, followed by job-shadowing exchanges, will give participants an opportunity to gain new perspectives, see reforms in practice and bring adaptable solutions back to their institutions.”

The success of the Programme will ultimately be measured not only by the exchanges themselves, but by what happens afterwards – whether new ideas are tested, useful practices are adapted, professional relationships continue and the knowledge gained contributes to concrete institutional improvements.

With its first cohort now connected, the Regional Public Administration Mobility Programme begins its journey towards building a sustainable community of public servants committed to learning from one another and shaping stronger, more connected and future-ready public administrations – together.