28-29 November 2024, Budapest, Hungary

The EUPAN Directors General Meeting, held under the Hungarian Presidency, provided a dynamic platform to address pivotal themes shaping the future of public administration, such as artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability and generational insights.

Katalin Uzsák, Deputy State Secretary Responsible for the Operation of Territorial Public Administration, Ministry of Public Administration and Regional Development, and Enikő Kovácsné Szekér, Deputy State Secretary for Personnel Affairs, Ministry of Interior, delivered opening remarks, emphasising the importance of collaborative approaches to reform in public administration. Distinguished experts like Prof. Attila Menyhárd highlighted the regulatory frameworks for AI, while Dr Calum T.M. Nicholson discussed climate change's profound impact on governmental structures.

A notable moment for the Western Balkans was the presentation by Romina Kostani and Fotjona Taçe on Albania’s digital transformation and AI integration, showcasing the region's progress in adopting innovative technologies to enhance governance.

Workshops covered key issues such as AI challenges, green public administration, omnichannel customer service, and generational research, encouraging the exchange of good practices. Participants noted the necessity of sustainability initiatives and innovation ecosystems, as presented by experts like László Vértesy and David Mair.

The meeting concluded with discussions on Albania’s observer status, the EUPAN Strategy Paper 2022-2025, and upcoming priorities under the Polish and Danish Presidencies. This high-level dialogue reaffirmed the Western Balkans' role in shaping a forward-thinking, resilient public administration aligned with European values.

The ReSPA team is tankful to Katalin Uzsák and Enikő Kovácsné Szekér for the great hospitality and invitation extended to ReSPA to participate in EUPAN events under the Hungarian Presidency.