Skopje, 24 February 2010

EU funded Public Administration Reform project started and running

On 24 February the launching event of the "Strengthening the Capacity of the General Secretariat – Sector for Policy Analysis and Coordination - Unit for Public Administration Reform and Unit for NGO Cooperation" project took place at the EU InfoCentre.

Ambassador Erwan FOUÉRÉ, Special Representative of the European Union and Head of EU Delegation, and Mr. Kiril BOZINOVSKI, General Secretary of the Government and Mr. Folkert MILCH, Team Leader of the project addressed the participants at the conference.

The conference is part of the EU-funded project "Strengthening the Capacity of the General Secretariat – Sector for Policy Analysis and Coordination - Unit for Public Administration Reform and Unit for NGO Cooperation". The project's overall objective is to ensure the continuity of the Public Administration Reform (PAR) process, by adjusting and developing the administrative system, due to fast changes in modern society and in the EU integration process. The project supports the efforts of the country to meet the Copenhagen criteria that require a competent and well organized public administration able to effectively participate in the work of the EU institutions, and make best use of the EU funds.

Within its 18-month duration, the project will provide assistance to the General Secretariat to develop a new Public Administration Reform (PAR) Strategy, as well as to review and update the Strategy for cooperation of the government with the civil sector. Furthermore, the project will strengthen the capacity of the beneficiary to coordinate the implementation of the two strategies, and will enhance the capacity of the High level Committee for State Administration Reform in carrying out its task to steer the public administration reform process.

The EU-funded "Strengthening the Capacity of the General Secretariat – Sector for Policy Analysis and Coordination - Unit for Public Administration Reform and Unit for NGO Cooperation officially started in November 2009, with a budget of 1 million EUR and with duration of 18 months. This project will be implemented by Hulla & Co. Human Dynamics KG from Austria in association with IPS Institute Slovenia, by a team consisted of international and local experts.