A structured and strengthened cooperation framework

Cooperation with French partners has significantly expanded and deepened since the signing of the Declaration of Intent with the French Ministry in charge of public administration in November 2023. This momentum has been further reinforced since November 2024 with the secondment of Caroline Socié as a French advisor within the ReSPA team.

Since then, the participation of French experts in ReSPA activities has steadily increased, alongside enhanced cooperation with a wide range of French public institutions. France is also financing and implementing two regional projects in close partnership with ReSPA, aimed at supporting the development of modern, agile, and resilient public administrations, and facilitating their alignment with European Union standards. The aim is also to help building closer connection between French and European institutions on one side, and administrations of the Western Balkans and the Eastern neighborhood on the other side.
In spring 2026, ReSPA welcomed for the first time a trainee civil servant from the Institut régional d’administration (IRA) of Metz for a six-week internship, further strengthening institutional ties and exchanges.

This cooperation is fully aligned with France’s strategy for the Western Balkans, reflecting its commitment to supporting public administration reform, fostering modernization efforts, and actively contributing to the region’s gradual integration into the European Union.

In that regard, France has a proactive approach aimed at facilitating the integration of ReSPA and public administrations of the region into European public administration networks, as well as supporting their participation in various meetings and events at the European level. Familiarity with European administrative and professional practices is indeed essential, enabling smoother, more beneficial integration for the region's administrations.

 

A joint initiative to support access to INSP short training programmes

Launched in 2025 as a pilot initiative, this programme promotes the participation of civil servants in short-term training courses delivered by the Institut national du service public (INSP) in Paris, covering a broad range of public administration topics.
In 2025, 11 participants from the region were selected to participate to the following training programmes:

• Leadership and management: transforming public administrations
• Negotiating within and with the European Union: European economic diplomacy
• Risks and crisis management at the European and international levels

Building on its success, the initiative will be renewed in 2026 in close cooperation between ReSPA and French embassies in the Western Balkans, as well as in Ukraine and Moldova, thereby expanding its regional outreach and impact.

 

Promoting integrity and ethics in the public sector

This one-year project, funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, aims to raise awareness among civil servants in the Western Balkans on corruption prevention, as well as integrity and ethical standards in public administration.

Based on peer exchange and the sharing of best practices, the project has led to the development of a common training curriculum and an open-access online course on these key issues, supported by French expertise. It benefits from the contributions of leading French institutions, including the Agence française anticorruption (AFA), the Haute Autorité pour la transparence de la vie publique (HATVP), and the Direction générale de l'administration et de la fonction publique (DGAFP).
A “Community of Practice” has been established within this framework, bringing together ministries responsible for public administration, anti-corruption agencies, and public administration schools or training centres. This network will continue beyond the project and is expected to expand to include participants from Ukraine, Moldova, and Armenia.

 

“Bridge to EU”: a comprehensive programme supporting good governance

The Bridge to EU programme provides long-term support to public administration reform efforts across the region. Funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and implemented in close cooperation with ReSPA, this two-year programme aims to strengthen institutional capacities, foster administrative cooperation, and promote the exchange of experience and best practices.

Designed as a capacity-development and peer-learning initiative, the programme is grounded in principles of partnership, joint ownership, and mutual accountability. Its ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of more professional, efficient, and citizen-oriented administrations.

The programme of activities implemented during the first year lays the foundations for sustainable impact by strengthening leadership capacities among senior officials, supporting public administration schools, and enhancing preparedness for EU integration. The second year of activities will build on these achievements while addressing crosscutting issues such as public financial management and multilevel governance.

 

Supporting regional mobility in the Western Balkans

France also contributes to the regional mobility scheme launched in April 2026 under the Berlin Process. In this context, French administrations will host civil servants from the region for professional mobility placements (job shadowing) starting in autumn 2026, further promoting skills development, knowledge exchange, and administrative convergence with European standards.