21 January 2025, Rzeszów, Poland

At the 13th CORLEAP Annual Meeting, regional and local leaders gathered to discuss the future of the Eastern Partnership and CORLEAP's role in the new EU political cycle. The event focused on strengthening the local and regional dimensions of the EaP, including the development of the future EaP Academy for Public Administration. Speakers, including prominent figures like Vasco Alves Cordeiro and Marta Kos, highlighted the crucial role of local and regional authorities and the urgent need for administrative capacity-building across EaP countries.

Representing ReSPA, Director Maja Handjiska-Trendafilova and other distinguished speakers participated in the session 'A Blueprint for Capacity Building for Local and Regional Public Administration in EaP Countries.'. Handjiska-Trendafilova underscored ReSPA's pivotal role as a hub for administrative capacity-building, regional networking, and mobility exchanges. She also emphasized ReSPA's commitment to fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration between the Western Balkans and EaP countries, contributing to enhancing administrative capacities in the Eastern Partnership.

The meeting served as a critical platform for aligning local and regional authorities with EU priorities such as security, green and digital transitions, and resilience. It highlighted the importance of collaboration, capacity-building, and knowledge exchange in building resilient and sustainable administrations for the future.