2 June 2026, Chișinău, Moldova

ReSPA marked an important milestone in its regional mission by organising ReSPA Open Days: “Advancing EU Enlargement: Reform, Readiness and Regional Cooperation” in Chișinău, bringing together senior public administrators from the Western Balkans and, for the first time in this format, colleagues from Moldova, Ukraine and Armenia, creating a face-to-face platform for exchange, peer learning and future cooperation.

The event represents a significant step for ReSPA in building new partnerships, strengthening connections between institutions, experts and civil servants working on public administration reform and EU integration. Designed as an introductory and networking event, ReSPA Open Days presented the organisation’s work, support mechanisms and practical experience from the Western Balkans, while opening space for new partnerships with administrations in Moldova, Ukraine and Armenia.

At a time when EU accession and integration processes are bringing these regions closer together, the event highlighted the importance of strong administrative capacities, reform readiness and regional cooperation. Participants discussed how public administrations can better respond to the demands of EU integration, deliver reforms, and build institutions capable of serving citizens more effectively before and after EU membership.

Opening the event, Jelena Mrdak, ReSPA Director a.i., underlined that this gathering is more than an institutional presentation - it is the beginning of a new phase of cooperation: “Reform gives direction. Readiness gives credibility. Regional cooperation gives strength. No administration can modernise in isolation, and no country can prepare for EU membership only through formal procedures. Progress comes when civil servants learn from each other, and when regions build practical alliances around common goals.”

Ghenadie Marian, Head of the Bureau for European Integration at the State Chancellery of the Government of Moldova, underlined that EU accession is not only a process of adopting European legislation, but also a transformative journey of building effective public institutions, strengthening administrative capacities and delivering sustainable reforms that improve citizens’ lives. Speaking from the perspective of Moldova’s European path, he emphasised the importance of regional cooperation and peer learning as essential tools for helping administrations meet the expectations and responsibilities of future EU membership.

Stephen Dahlgren from the Delegation of the European Union to Moldova also highlighted that Moldova’s progress towards EU membership depends not only on legal reforms, but equally on strong institutions, professional public servants and the ability of the administration to implement reforms effectively.

In this context, ReSPA was recognised as an important platform for learning, networking and strengthening administrative capacity, supporting administrations across the enlargement region in advancing successful, sustainable and citizen-oriented public administration reform.

The programme included discussions on ReSPA’s thematic areas and direct support instruments, the role of administrative capacity in the enlargement context, public administration awards, as well as testimonials from Western Balkan practitioners who have benefited from ReSPA’s work over the past 15 years. Through concrete examples, new beneficiaries from Moldova, Ukraine and Armenia had the opportunity to learn how ReSPA supports reform processes through training, mobility, peer exchange, technical assistance and regional networking.

Presenting ReSPA’s project thematic areas and direct support instruments, Boris Ristović, ReSPA Programme Manager – Coordinator, emphasised that the value of ReSPA lies in turning regional knowledge into practical support: “ReSPA’s strength has always been its ability to connect administrations around concrete reform needs. What we are starting today with Moldova, Ukraine and Armenia is not a one-off event, but the foundation for long-term cooperation. We want to listen carefully, understand priorities, and jointly shape support that is practical, relevant and useful for institutions. This is how networks become partnerships, and how partnerships become reform results.”

The event brought together civil servants and professionals working in key public administration reform portfolios, including policy management, better regulation and simplification, European integration and accession negotiations, human resources management and professional development, digital transition, quality management and public finance management.

A particular focus was placed on interactive thematic discussions, where participants mapped priority areas, needs and expectations for the coming period. These discussions will help inform ReSPA’s future support to Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia.

The gathering concluded with a clear message: the EU enlargement agenda is gaining renewed momentum, bringing the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia closer together within a shared European integration path.

Participants underlined that public administration reform remains one of the foundations of successful enlargement, as future EU Member States must be able not only to adopt European standards, but also to implement them effectively, consistently and sustainably.

In this context, ReSPA was reaffirmed as a recognised regional hub and trusted partner for public administration reform, supporting administrations in strengthening their capacities, exchanging practical knowledge and advancing reforms that deliver tangible benefits to citizens.

The discussions also confirmed the strong value of peer exchange as a core element of ReSPA’s support model. By connecting institutions, practitioners and reform leaders across the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership region, ReSPA continues to foster cooperation, mutual learning and a stronger community of public administrations working towards a common European future.

By bringing together public servants from both regions, ReSPA Open Days created an important first bridge between institutions, people and reform communities. The event confirmed that enlargement-related reforms are not only technical processes, but shared journeys that require cooperation, trust and sustained exchange among administrations facing similar challenges and pursuing common European goals.