Informal Meet-up and Debrief on ReSPA’s Activities and Results with Esteemed Ambassadors of ReSPA Members, Representatives of the EU Delegation and Montenegro's Ministry of Public Administration Representative
28 March 2024, ReSPA Premises
Director HANDJISKA-TRENDAFILOVA and the ReSPA team hosted an informal meeting with esteemed guests: HE Ms. Zhaklina PETO, Ambassador of Albania to Montenegro; HE Mr. Branimir JUKIĆ, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Montenegro; HE Mr. Zećir RAMČILOVIĆ, Ambassador of North Macedonia to Montenegro; Mr. Naim GJOKAJ, State Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and ReSPA GB SL Member; and Ms. Ana STANIŠIĆ VRBICA, Advisor for Good Governance and European Integration, Delegation of the EU to Montenegro, in a traditional informal gathering.
"These informal meetings are pivotal in bringing ReSPA’s results closer to our key stakeholders - the diplomatic corps, the EU Delegation, and esteemed public administrators- and boosting our work's regional ownership. Deeply honoured to welcome the Ambassadors to ReSPA’s new premises and against the background of our prolific work in 2023, we acquainted them with our upcoming flagship activities, including the series of learning and capacity-building actions, regional Ministerial dialogue, PA Award, intra-regional and WB-EU mobility exchanges, etc.
We reiterated our readiness, enthusiasm, and drive to continue even more. We also stressed some key directions forward: increased interactions and networks with EU MS practitioners; gradual integration of WB in all EU PAR-relevant platforms and instruments; boosted uptake of our hands-on and agile direct technical assistance to support reforms; bringing important topics to the forefront, including greening of public administration, digital and AI-ready public sector, innovation in the public sector, the well-being of public servants, the attractiveness of public administration and staff retention, and many others".
Esteemed guests praised ReSPA's efforts in empowering regional collaboration, bridging the region with the European Commission and EU member state institutions, and supporting the region's overall progress and European perspective. As Western Balkan administrations aspire to join the EU, they are compelled to align their governance structures with EU standards, necessitating the professionalisation of civil services and institutional strengthening. ReSPA continues to work on this path.
