8 April 2025, Podgorica, Montenegro
 

ReSPA Secretariat gathered Liaison Officers for a coordination meeting to enhance collaboration and alignment across public administration reform initiatives in the Western Balkans. The meeting was an opportunity to exchange experiences, share insights, and address challenges in implementing ReSPA’s ongoing and future activities. The meeting emphasised the importance of the LOs in facilitating communication and coordination between ReSPA and their respective administrations.

In the opening session, they were briefed on implementing the ReSPA Indicative Programme of Work for 2025 and updates on using direct support instruments, with the deadline for application submissions. LOs and ReSPA Programme Managers discussed improvements in coordination and upcoming proposals.

The Secretariat also presented the current status of the Knowledge Management Platform (KMP), underlining the need to populate the platform further and increase its visibility among public servants. Discussions with the LOs focused on strategies to attract more interest and engagement from national administrations.

During the segment on external cooperation, ReSPA representatives outlined ongoing and new initiatives, including collaborations with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cycle 2), the RADAR project, and AI4Gov. They had also discussed prospects for a new Grant Contract with the European Commission and cooperation with the French Government.

Operational updates were shared regarding new team members within the Secretariat and the evolving roles of Programme Managers and Officers, focusing on the internal dynamics and organizational improvements.

In the last session, LOs reflected on their work with ReSPA and suggested avenues for improving coordination, reporting and overall participation in ReSPA activities. Suggestions for enhancing online registration, methodological approaches to activities, and the structure of the annual report on participation were also discussed. The ReSPA Secretariat encouraged more proactive involvement in future Public Administration Awards, especially in 2026.

The meeting concluded with a wrap-up session summarizing key takeaways and reaffirming the shared commitment of the ReSPA team and LOs to advancing good governance and public administration reform across the region.