More than 250 senior civil servants successfully completed specialized training during a four-year project implemented by the National Academy for Public Administration (NAPA) with financial support and in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia.
The successful completion of the project “Strengthening the Professional Capacities of Senior Civil Servants in the Republic of Serbia” was marked today with a conference at the NAPA.
“Enhancing the managerial skills of senior civil servants, as well as strengthening leadership, are key success factors in implementing public administration reform in the Republic of Serbia. In this regard, on behalf of all participants, I would like to express deep gratitude for the unwavering support of the Delegation of the European Union over the past four years,” said NAPA Director Marina Dražić at the conference opening.
During the introductory part of the conference, remarks were delivered by Nicola Bertolini, Head of the Cooperation Department of the EU Delegation, Aleksandar Petrović, State Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, and Mihailo Jovanović, Director of the Office for Information Technologies and e-Government.
Bertolini emphasized that Serbia’s EU accession process, supported significantly by the European Union, largely depends on the efficiency of senior civil servants. “They are the drivers of innovation in the way public administration operates in service of citizens. The Growth Plan and the acceleration of EU accession provide them with an opportunity to become more transparent and accountable to the people of Serbia. The National Academy for Public Administration has been entrusted with a crucial role in supporting the country’s EU accession,” he stated.
Mihailo Jovanović highlighted the National Academy’s key role in the professionalization and development of public administration. He noted that over the past eight years, the Academy has become a centre of excellence in training and educating civil servants, with this project serving as just one example of how the Academy contributes to strengthening the capacity and expertise of public institutions, particularly among senior officials and decision-makers.
The event continued with a panel discussion where senior civil servants, who participated as both trainers and trainees, shared their experiences gained over the past four years.
Through a modern and innovative training approach, with the participation of experts from various fields, civil servants enhanced their knowledge in key public administration areas through the “Foundations” and “Hive” programs. The “Foundations – Essential Topics” module is designed for newly appointed senior civil servants as a form of guidance and preparation for their new roles. The “Hive” program reflects the idea that various modules can be combined to meet the specific needs of officials who have been in leadership positions for an extended period.
As part of the project, study visits to Brussels were also organized, providing civil servants with firsthand insight into the functioning of EU institutions and an opportunity to exchange experiences with colleagues in Brussels.
