ReSPA and OECD/SIGMA are pleased to announce the regional conference: Bridging Justice and Governance: Strengthening Accountability and Oversight Through Co-operation, which will take place in Hotel Princess, Bar, Montenegro, on 10–11 September 2025. The draft agenda is attached for your reference.

A functional administrative judiciary is essential to the rule of law and a cornerstone of effective public administration, ensuring access to justice and judicial oversight of administrative acts. While Western Balkan countries formally meet these standards, recent OECD/SIGMA Study on the functioning of administrative judiciaries in the Western Balkans reveals critical challenges in practice, including delays in court judgment execution, excessive litigation costs, prolonged proceedings, and limited institutional learning from court outcomes. These issues not only strain judicial systems but also undermine public trust and legal certainty. Addressing them requires enhanced cooperation between administrative authorities and the judiciary. In this context, ReSPA and OECD/SIGMA are convening a regional conference to facilitate dialogue among national and international stakeholders, promote good practices, and explore joint solutions.

Each administration is invited to nominate up to four experienced participants, drawn from the following institutions, based on their specificities:

• Ministry of Justice: A senior-level representative (e.g. Director General, Deputy Minister, or Head of Department for Judiciary Affairs) with oversight of administrative justice, court procedures, or justice policy coordination.
• Administrative Court: A high-level judicial representative actively engaged in administrative disputes, preferably the President or senior judge of the Administrative Court or equivalent.
• Ministry of Public Administration: A representative from a ministry or authority responsible for the overall functioning or reform of public administration, such as the Ministry of Public Administration or a relevant Prime Minister’s Office department.
• Ministry of Finance: A senior official (e.g. State Secretary, or Director General) involved in budgeting and monitoring the financial implications of court proceedings and administrative legal actions.
• Institution Frequently Involved in Administrative Disputes or Oversight: A representative from a government agency or body often party to administrative court proceedings (e.g. tax or revenue office), or an institution relevant to oversight and protection of citizens’ rights (e.g. Ombudsman, Commissioner for Information, Protector of State Property).

Participants should possess significant expertise in the subject matter and be prepared to engage actively in peer exchange and solution-focused discussions. Please note that simultaneous interpretation will be provided.