After performing the first monitoring exercise, WeBER research team revealed findings and data related to the present levels of openness, transparency, accountability, and meritocracy of the Western Balkans’ administrations at the meeting organised in the premises of the DG NEAR. Interested officials of the European Commission had opportunity to acquire first-hand insights of the monitoring process and methodology, learn about research results in all six public administration reform (PAR) areas and ask country-specific questions in order to obtain evidence-informed findings necessary for their future communication efforts towards the Western Balkan countries.

Following the DG NEAR meeting, Regional PAR Monitor 2017/2018 was presented at the Policy Dialogue A Balkan perspective on Public Administration Reform: Who is moving forward and who is falling behind? organised by Brussels-based WeBER partner organisation, EPC. The Policy Dialogue was moderated by EPC Senior Policy Analyst, Corina Stratulat, and was attended by EPC members, EU officials and media. It explored the project findings in more detail, and answered the following questions: How does each country’s public administration compare to the others? What examples of good and bad practice can be found throughout the region? Where are the frontrunners lagging behind, and why? What should the Balkan countries do to further advance reform and how should the EU help?

The results show considerable discrepancies between countries and reveal that the “frontrunners” are not always at the front in all the different aspects of PAR. If you are interested in learning more about the results of the WeBER monitoring, please read the Executive Summary available here or take a look at the graphically presented results in the PAR Scoreboard available here.