Energised public administration reform

Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci, Deputy Minister for European Integration Gezim Kasapolli and Minister for Public Administration Mahir Yagcilar represented the Kosovo government at the meeting today. The EU was present through its Special Representative Samuel Žbogar and representatives of the Directorates-General for Human Resources and EU Enlargement.

“In our SAP Dialogues we usually discuss matters which are related to content: from Rule of Law and Human Rights to Agriculture and Transport. But today we start to discuss with you the machinery behind all these issues, the one that is here to monitor and implement all strategies and action plans: the public administration”, EU Special Representative Samuel Žbogar said.

“Public Administration Reform process should not be seen as special project of other membership areas. That is almost the only joint denominator within the advancement of the European Agenda. At the same time, Public Administration Reform deals with improvement of the quality and the way of providing services to citizens,” said the deputy Minister for European Integrations, Gezim Kasapolli.

The EU and Kosovo analysed in the meeting how the policy coordination in the Kosovo government can be improved and how the political leadership of Kosovo can possibly move closer to the overall reform process which currently mainly is being dealt with on the technical level. A precise list of action points is being agreed following the meeting. The functioning of the Independent Oversight Board, the salaries of public officials, the drafting process of laws and the compability with the EU acquis communautaire were some of the issues discussed. The next meeting regarding this topic will be held in Brussels in early December.

The “Special Group on Public Administration Reform” is a new format of policy dialogue which follows the example of the practice of dialogue meetings in the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Process. Gaps are being identified and follow-up actions agreed.

Since there is no common European model on public administration the benchmarking between the EU and the Government of Kosovo in this field has received a different label than SAP Dialogue – although it is meant to serve the same purpose: to help to energise major reform processes in Kosovo.