Professional, efficient and user-oriented public administration and the future of human resources management in the public administration of Montenegro was the main topic of the conference held in Podgorica on 23 March 2022, which also marked the successful completion of the EU twinning project "Support to Human Resources Management in the Public Sector".
The purpose of the €950,000 project, which was implemented over a period of 26 months, was to improve human resources management in the public sector of Montenegro with full application of the standards of efficient, user-oriented and transparent public administration.
Presenting the results of the Twinning project, Director of the Human Resources Management Authority of Montenegro Jovana Nišavić said that the Human Resources Management Authority would work on improving the recruitment process through the introduction of electronic applications, binding of records and competency-based assessment. "Through these activities, we are approaching the administrative area of the European Union and positive evaluations in the pre-accession process. I believe that the cooperation established on such good foundations, as it was with Finland and Croatia, does not end today, but will be strengthened even more through future international activities, " concluded Nišavić.
Minister of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media of Montenegro Tamara Srzentić stated that through the Public Administration Reform Strategy 2022-2026, the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media clearly mapped the future of public administration, determined the processes and services for automation in the next period and defined the skills of public servants that require further strengthening. "I see public administration as an attractive employer, with public and managing officials serving public policies that are created in the interest of all citizens, rather than political parties and political interests," said Minister Srzentić.
The head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro, Ambassador Oana Kristina Popa, stressed that public administration reform was at the heart of the EU integration process and good human resources management. Montenegro would have to make significant efforts to make its public administration truly transparent, efficient, professional and result-oriented. She highlighted that the competences of civil servants already in the system needed to be developed and preserved.
The Ambassador of Finland Kimo Lähdevirta and the Chargé d 'affaires of the Embassy of Croatia Tomislav Pavković emphasized the successful cooperation between Finland and Croatia as partners in the twinning project, pointing out that the project results had been achieved, but that it was up to Montenegro and its public administration as the project beneficiary to make efforts to ensure sustainability of the results in practice. Twinning projects are one of the best tools for development and this project was also extremely important for Montenegro and its path to the European Union.
Director General of the Ministry of Finance of Finland Juha Sarkio and Head of Sector at the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration of Croatia Ivan Lakoš talked about the experiences and best practices of Finland and Croatia, with a brief reference to the challenges of accession to and membership in the European Union.
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