Investing in professional and competent civil servants is crucial for sustainable public administration reform and meeting European standards, said Minister Maraš Dukaj.
He opened today in Podgorica the two-day Forum on Public Administration Reform, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom and in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration (MPA).
Dukaj emphasized that no reform, including the digitalization and modernization of administration, can be implemented without strong coordination of all institutions and partnership with the international community, primarily the European Union (EU).
He said that the goal is to create a public administration that will be a true service to citizens and the economy, in accordance with European standards.
"Montenegro is entering the final phase of European negotiations, when not only the implementation of reforms is expected, but also their long-term sustainability. Public administration reform is recognized in Cluster 1, which confirms the need for strong political will and coordination of all institutions," said Dukaj.
He said that an important task of public administration is to ensure the results of reform processes that will be sustainable and remain a permanent part of institutional practice, emphasizing that the key to success lies in professional, resilient and competent civil servants.
"The most important thing is that the right people are in the right places according to their competencies and knowledge," said Dukaj, stating that they will continue to implement the "Ready for Europe" program, which trains civil servants to work in EU institutions, but also to cooperate with regional and domestic partners in order to strengthen the knowledge and skills of public administration employees.
Dukaj emphasized the importance of the new Law on Civil Servants and Employees, which introduces the full application of the merit principle, as well as legal solutions that enable greater staff mobility and more rational use of resources.
He said that the Law on Public Institutions has also been completed, and that the Government has recently implemented a series of structural reforms aimed at the professionalization and transparency of public administration.
"The citizens of Montenegro expect and deserve an administration that must fulfill European obligations in this regard. All changes we initiate must provide new value and bring new strength. Our priority is therefore clear - to invest in people, professionalism, integrity and knowledge," said Dukaj.
He emphasized that the modernization of the public sector is not only a technical process, but also requires a change in culture, with the application of good practices, support from international partners, domestic institutions and all stakeholders in society.
"We have decided to modernize the Montenegrin public administration together in accordance with European standards," said Dukaj.
British Ambassador Dawn McCann said that the United Kingdom has been supporting the modernization of public administration in Montenegro for years, strengthening professional standards and building strong institutions.
"Our vision is clear - public administration should be efficient and open, working in the interests of all citizens without nepotism and party pressure, with simpler and faster procedures," said McCann.
She stated that through joint projects implemented with UNDP and MPA, the work of key institutions, such as the Administrative Inspection and the Complaints Commission, has been strengthened in the employment and human resources management processes.
According to Meken, Montenegro is in an important phase of accession negotiations and therefore it is important to discuss now the preparation of the public administration to take advantage of all the benefits of membership.
"Montenegro has a clear European perspective, and success depends on strong institutions that protect the interests of all citizens," McCann pointed out.
She said that the United Kingdom, although no longer in the EU, supports Montenegro's European path because, as she stated, the countries share the same values of democracy and the belief that strong institutions bring stability and justice to society.
"The United Kingdom will remain a partner in this process through technical, expert and financial support, as well as through dialogue on future reforms," said McCann.
The UNDP Resident Representative in Montenegro, Ekatarina Paniklova, assessed that public administration reform goes beyond technical frameworks and represents a process of state and institution building.
She recalled that Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Agenda - building effective institutions - is an obligation of all countries and added that the entire world is lagging behind in achieving the goals.
"Montenegro is implementing the EU acquis and, when it completes all chapters, it will achieve 70 percent of all sustainable development goals," Paniklova stated.
She said that public administration reform is important not only for Montenegro, but also for the Western Balkans region, because it can serve as an example for others.
"UNDP is here for Montenegro. The entire public administration reform is too complex to be implemented by just one institution, so we are very happy to be able to cooperate with all of you," said Paniklova.
The forum brought together representatives of state institutions, local governments, international partners, academia and civil society, with the aim of defining sustainable solutions for the public administration of Montenegro in the period after 2026 through dialogue and exchange of experiences, including examples from Croatia and Slovenia.
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