9-11 September 2026, Belgrade, Serbia

In cooperation with the Hertie School, ReSPA brought together junior professionals and civil servants recently appointed to EU accession coordination and EU funds management structures for the EU Affairs Summer Programme for Junior Professionals in Belgrade. The intensive three-day programme equipped a new generation of public administration professionals with the knowledge, practical skills and regional connections needed to contribute more effectively to European integration.

The programme opened with remarks by Mr Miroslav Gačević, Assistant Minister of European Integration of the Republic of Serbia, Mr Julian Vassallo, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia; and Jelena Mrdak, ReSPA Director a.i. They underlined that progress towards EU membership depends not only on political commitments and institutional frameworks, but also on capable public servants who can translate reforms into tangible results for citizens.

"European integration is ultimately delivered by people. Behind every negotiating chapter, every reform programme and every piece of legislation aligned with the EU acquis are public servants who must understand complex processes, coordinate institutions, negotiate solutions and turn European commitments into tangible results for citizens. By bringing together junior professionals from the Western Balkans, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine, this programme strengthens not only their knowledge and practical skills, but also the professional networks and cooperation that our administrations need to move forward on the European path," said Jelena Mrdak, ReSPA Director ad interim.

Designed for civil servants from the Western Balkans, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine, the programme addressed a practical need shared across the enlargement region: enabling professionals who are new to EU coordination structures to quickly develop a clear understanding of how accession works, who shapes its decisions and what is required to turn political commitments into credible and sustainable reforms. It connected three dimensions of European integration: understanding the accession process, navigating the EU institutional and legal system, and developing the skills needed to negotiate and communicate reforms.

The programme was delivered by three complementary experts. Adnan Ćerimagić, Senior Analyst at the European Stability Initiative (ESI), led the sessions on EU enlargement, accession architecture and lessons from earlier enlargement rounds. Dr Wouter van Ballegooij, Independent EU Law and Policy Expert, guided participants through EU law, institutions, decision-making, legislative alignment and accession negotiations. Caroline King, PhD, Guest Lecturer at the Hertie School and Public Affairs Specialist, led the sessions on political communication, stakeholder management and communication strategies in the EU context.

On the first day, under the theme Understanding EU Enlargement and Accession, Adnan Ćerimagić examined the Current State of EU Enlargement and the Future of European Integration, the Architecture of the EU Accession Process, and Pre-Accession and Post-Accession: Lessons from Previous Enlargement Rounds. He concluded the day with the interactive Case Study Workshop: Managing the Accession Journey, which enabled participants to apply the concepts to practical accession-related challenges.

The second day, Understanding How the European Union Works, was led by Dr Wouter van Ballegooij. His sessions covered Sources, Principles and Values of EU Law and the Roles of its Main Institutions, including the Court of Justice; How the EU Makes Decisions and the EU Legislative Process; Enforcement of EU Law, notably in the Context of the Transposition and Alignment of EU Legislation; and the Role of the Commission and Council in Accession Negotiations. Through concrete case studies, participants explored the rule of law, the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation, the Protection of the Union's Financial Interests Directive, infringement procedures and the practical demands of aligning national legislation with the EU acquis.

The final day, Negotiating and Communicating European Integration, connected technical knowledge with the human and political dimensions of reform. Caroline King led Political Communication in the EU Context, Stakeholder Management in the EU Context, and the workshop Designing Communication Strategies for EU Reform Milestones. Participants practised framing technical evidence for non-specialist audiences, developing persuasive policy messages, mapping stakeholder power and influence, and navigating competing interests in complex policy environments.

The programme culminated in the Simulation Exercise: Negotiating and Communicating a Reform Package, jointly facilitated by Caroline King and Adnan Ćerimagić. Working in teams, participants applied the knowledge and tools acquired over the three days to negotiate and communicate a complex reform package, strengthening strategic thinking, collaboration and peer learning.

As Jelisaveta Tasev, ReSPA Programme Manager underlined: It is essential to further strengthen the capacities of public administrations to effectively drive the European integration process, while also encouraging and motivating young professionals to build their careers in this field. We were particularly pleased to spend these three days working with public officials from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Armenia, exploring three key dimensions of EU accession and European integration: enlargement, EU law and communication on EU-related matters.

It is especially valuable that we brought together officials from these two regions, creating an opportunity to exchange experiences, share perspectives and lay the foundations for future cooperation.”

Grounded in the Hertie School's Executive Education approach, the programme combined academic rigour and practitioner experience through expert-led sessions, case studies, practical exercises, facilitated group work and simulation. Participants who completed the programme were awarded certificates and left Belgrade with a stronger understanding of the accession process, practical tools they could apply in their institutions, and a cross-regional network of peers facing similar responsibilities and challenges.

The EU Affairs Summer Programme reflected ReSPA's broader commitment to connecting public administrations across the Western Balkans and the Eastern Neighbourhood. It recognised that accession is not achieved through legislation and institutional structures alone: it also requires capable, confident and connected civil servants who can transform European ambitions into coordinated reforms and tangible results for citizens.