Public administration in countries in the process of accession to the European Union: Challenges, practices and reform priorities
The second panel of the international conference KosovaPAR 2026 was dedicated to the challenges and priorities of public administration reform in countries in the process of accession to the European Union, with a focus on the implementation of European standards, professionalization, transparency and institutional accountability.
The panel was moderated by Françoise Belet, Vice President of the Gender and Governance Action Platform (2GAP) and National Representative for Professional Gender Equality.
The panel was attended by Naser Shamolli, Senior Policy Fellow at the Group for Legal and Policy Studies (GLPS), Kosovo; Peter Vagi, Senior Policy Advisor at OECD/SIGMA; Brikena Avdyli, Gender and Diversity Expert and co-author of the Sectoral Gender Analysis of Public Administration Reform; and Paulina Stanoeva, Programme Manager at the Cooperation Section of the European Union Office in Kosovo.
Discussions focused on the challenge of implementing reforms in practice, merit-based recruitment, performance evaluation, rationalization of institutional structures, and representation of women in leadership positions.
The experiences and assessments shared during the panel emphasized the importance of functional institutions, transparent processes, and equal opportunities for professional advancement as prerequisites for a public administration that responds to European standards and expectations of the citizens.
KosovaPAR 2026 is organized by the Ministry of Digitalization and Public Administration of the Republic of Kosovo.
