Our history
ReSPA initiative was formulated following the June 2003 Thessaloniki Agenda. As an intergovernmental organisation it was formally launched in September 2010 and has been fully self-managed since October 2011.
For the first four years after establishing, we operated as a regional training provider and an in-service training centre for public servants from the Western Balkans.
In 2014, following recommendations of EU and our Members, we made the strategic shift from being primarily a training institution to an institution focused on quality management, capacity development and networking. Thus, we become a regional hub which supports its members to develop their public administrations’ capacity, individually and collectively, and to foster experience exchange and regional cooperation.
Over the years, thousands of participants have gathered the required skills and knowledge through various capacity development events we have organised. Relevant institutions have implemented many recommendations out of comprehensive research studies we developed.
We in ReSPA will continue to contribute to the effective response of our Members’ public administrations to the needs of citizens and businesses by strengthening regional cooperation in the area of PAR and EUI.
Therefore, we will put in place modalities that will lead to enhanced cooperation between ReSPA and third countries, as well as the admission of additional ReSPA members, observers and participants.
Ms Maja Handjiska Trendafilova ReSPA DirectorWe are currently considering diversifying our funding and may decide to launch fundraising efforts in the coming years, to raise funds for activities that cannot fit within the grants approved by the European Commission, as well as to contribute to our Core Budget.