Improving the system of professional development of public administration, including local self-government is one of the priority goals of public administration reform of the Government of Serbia, the European Union and the Council of Europe. That was highlighted at the conference "Together on the same mission" at the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), at the award ceremony for the best lecturers and trainers of various professional development programs for public administration employees.
NAPA accredited trainers will provide numerous trainings for local government employees over the next two years, with the aim of improving their competences and skills, as part of the activities of the Joint Program of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Human Resources Management in Local Government - Phase 2". This € 4 million program is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Council of Europe in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Government (MDLS) and the Standing Conference of Cities and Municipalities (SCTM).
Drazen Maravic, Director a.i. of NAPA, pointed out that a large number of professionals interested in working for the training of public administration employees applied for the accreditation of NAJU lecturers. In the future, they will be included in the programs of professional development of civil servants in municipalities and cities, which is part of the process of modernizing the civil servant system in Serbia.
"With the support of the European Union and the Council of Europe, we are working to modernize and professionalize the public administration system in Serbia, which is one of the conditions for Serbia's accession to the EU. Local governments are also involved in this process. To have a citizen-friendly public administration, as the campaign we are putting together says, we need to transform the system and improve the skills of local level employees, ”said Branko Ruzic, Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government, congratulating the top rated lecturers.
Tobias Flassenkemper, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade, pointed out that the European Union and the Council of Europe have been very intensively involved in the process of modernizing the official system in Serbia for several years. He recalled that in 2007, Serbia signed the European Charter on Local Self-Government, which guarantees standards for the protection of the rights of local self-governments and asks states to respect the 12 principles of good governance.
"Serbia has made efforts to successfully implement some of the basic principles of good governance in local government. One of the most important recommendations of the European Charter is to encourage citizens to participate in decision-making at the local level and in this direction should continue, "said Tobias Flesenkemper, pointing out that lecturers working to improve the capacity of local government employees are the bearers of changes in the public administration system in Serbia.
Mateja Norcic Stamcar, Deputy Head of Mission of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia said that the European Union is fully committed to supporting Serbia in public administration reform, which, with the rule of law and economic prosperity, is one of the three pillars of European integration. That is why the EU has invested over € 200 million in this field alone, of which € 70 million through direct budget support, and will continue to provide financial and professional support. “Under the Human Resource Management Program in Local Government - Phase 2, financial support will be provided for 50 different training programs for local government officials. In addition to the technical assistance already provided to the Academy, we are currently preparing a project that will provide direct financial support to NAJU to develop and implement a comprehensive program of specialized training for senior executives. This project worth close to one million Euros will, hopefully, really contribute to a significant change in the professionalization of public administration by improving the knowledge, capacity and motivation of the highest civil servants in Serbia. Civil service professionalization is a continuous process in all countries. A competent and professional public servant, accessible to citizens, must be our common goal, "said Mateja Norcic Stamcar.
For the accredited lecturers, in the continuation of the conference, workshops were organized dedicated to the application of new methods in the adult learning process.
