WeBER Policy Briefs

It has been four years since the government reorganization process, which primarily involved reducing the number of ministries, but did not extend to other bodies under their responsibility. This process was a result of an electoral promise and the subsequent agreement between the two parties, VV and LDK, which formed a postelection coalition to establish the government known as the "Government Kurti 1" in February 2020. Originally, there were 21 ministries, but as a result of the political agreement between VV and LDK, it was proposed to reduce the number to 15. However, due to political changes following the formation of the Hoti Government later in the same year, an additional ministry was added, bringing the total to 16 ministries. In 2021, with the formation of the Government Kurti 2, the number of ministries was reduced again to 15. The analysis focuses on several key aspects, including the rationale behind the organizational process, the legal framework, internal structure, classification, and the reorganization of job positions. Each segment is systematically examined, analyzing its impact on the government reorganization process and how it contributes to optimizing its functionality. The analysis focuses on evaluating the rationale behind the organizational changes, examining [...]

A professional, impartial, and effective public administration is key to the functioning of every democratic society. Therefore, it is very important to recruit educated and skilled professionals who are selected based on their qualities rather than their political affiliation. Recruitments, promotions, and dismissals of civil servants based on merit encourage candidates to apply for job positions in public administration, knowing that they will go through a transparent selection procedure and be assessed based on their competencies. Simultaneously, it motivates them to be proactive, ambitious, and hard-working, expecting to be rewarded for their work. This is especially important for senior civil servants with greater obligations and responsibilities. Hence, it is even more significant that their selection is merit-based. Their decisions affect the entire institution, which means they must respect the priorities of the government and the citizens they serve, acting in compliance with ethical standards. Such a professional attitude towards work, particularly among senior civil servants, strengthens personal and institutional integrity while increasing responsibility in work and enhancing public trust in institutions. Download the brief here ENG

In every constitutional democracy, independent institutions play a crucial role in maintaining checks and balances. In Albania, the State Audit Institution (SAI) is the highest supervisory authority for financial and administrative matters within public institutions. It provides recommendations for public institutions, the central government, local authorities, and public companies or joint-stock companies where the state holds a 50%+1 share. SAI also has a clear constitutional mandate to oversee and audit the use of public funds, ensuring they are managed responsibly and transparently. Download the brief here ENG

The Public Administration Reform Strategy in the Republic of Serbia (hereinafter PAR Strategy/ Strategy) was adopted in April 2021, covering the period from 2021 to 2030. During the three years of its implementation, a steady course of reform was set, although with varying results in the different reform areas. The Strategy introduced a three-tier coordination and management structure to improve efficiency, distinguishing between administrative and political levels. The first level, focused on expert and operational tasks, falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government (MPALSG). The Inter-Ministerial Project Group (IMPG) represents the second level. It is chaired by the Secretary of the MPALSG, and it includes coordinators of thematic areas of the Strategy. Other members of the IMPG include relevant representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs). The third, political level is the PAR Council, formed by the Government as the central strategic body for PAR. The Council represents the common political level of coordination of PAR and public finance reform. It is chaired by the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, with the deputy being the Minister of Finance. Members are appointed among line ministers and representatives of other state authorities, representatives [...]

-The exercise of public authority granted by law based on democratic governance assumes the existence of certain predispositions which effectively ensure the protection of the public interest. The professionalism of public servants is one of the main requirements to exercise the public authority as best as possible and in the function of protecting the public interest while also guaranteeing the effective protection of the rights and legal interests of people. This means that in order to achieve a good standard of professionalism, it is necessary to ensure that the staff has a proven professionalism. This is achieved through the implementation of rules that ensure meritocracy in order to be trusted with the exercise of public authority through the definition of positions and strict responsibilities in all links of public institutions. Recently, there is a growing trend, not only in Kosovo but also in the region, that the regular positions that remain vacant are filled with acting position and which for a long time are not filled through the procedures of advancement or external recruitment. This approach, certainly simple and suitable for daily politics, but also for the officials close to him, has managed to ignore and seriously violate the [...]

Following the publications of the PAR Monitor Report Albania, 2019/ 2020 and PAR Monitor Albania 2021/2022, the WeBER 2.0    research team and associates prepared two policy briefs, crosscutting PAR with other policy fields. The transition to online public service delivery and the challenge of cybersecurity on the one hand, and the importance of strengthening integrity in the public administration to fight corruption on the other, are discussed in the two cross-cutting policy briefs below. Find the Policy Brief here (in English) and here (in Albanian).