This document provides the agenda for the "Regional Conference for European Neighbourhood Countries" on public administration reform. The conference will bring together representatives from countries in the Middle East and North Africa to discuss how to strengthen public administration according to principles developed by the OECD and European Commission. The objectives are to highlight the importance of efficient and accountable public administration for development, and to present principles that can guide reforms. The agenda includes opening remarks, a presentation on the principles, and panel discussions on designing reforms and implementing/monitoring them. Country representatives will discuss challenges and share experiences implementing reforms.

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Regional Conference for
European Neighbourhood Countries
AGENDA
The Principles of Public Administration:
A Framework for ENP Countries
Dead Sea, Jordan
Tuesday, 10 May 2016

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Objectives of the conference
The conference is intended to provide a platform for discussions with senior country
representatives about how the European Commission (EC), together with OECD/SIGMA,
can better support their public administration reforms based on two main objectives:
• To highlight the importance of an efficient, accountable, effective and transparent
public administration within the wider economic and social development agendas of
the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries;
• To present the Principles of Public Administration: A Framework for the ENP
Countries and explain how they can be used to design and implement reforms, as
well as to evaluate progress over time.
Context
The review of the European Neighbourhood Policy in November 2015 outlined that an
accountable public administration, both at central and local levels, is key to democratic
governance, as well as inclusive economic and social development. Reforming the public
administration is important for governments to reach their policy objectives. Such
reform includes strengthening democratic and independent institutions; depoliticising
the civil service, developing e-Government and increasing institutional capacity and
accountability. The European Union (EU) also offers to provide assistance for
strengthening partners' capacities in policy development, service delivery and
management of public finances, and to support the work of national parliaments.
Since 2014, the EC has defined public administration reform (PAR) comprehensively
according to six core areas:
1) the strategic framework for public administration reform
2) policy development and co-ordination
3) public service and human resource management
4) accountability
5) service delivery
6) public financial management.
OECD/SIGMA, in close co-operation with the EC, has defined in detail each of these six
core areas in The Principles of Public Administration: A Framework for the ENP
Countries. These Principles aim to support the national authorities, the Commission
services and other donors to develop a shared understanding of what PAR entails and

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what countries could aim at with their administrative reforms, whether through
comprehensive PAR programmes or only in one of the core areas of PAR. The Principles
are also relevant in those countries where a comprehensive reform is not yet feasible,
but where certain aspects of PAR could be addressed through sectoral programmes.
The conference aims to bring together representatives from central management
institutions with responsibility in public administration reforms from Algeria, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia and Ukraine, as
well as the Palestinian Authority1
and Belarus as observer countries. Representatives of
the EU and the OECD will also take part in the event.
Format
The conference will allow all participants to discuss key elements of PAR and compare
national and regional experiences of strengthening the public administration, with the
aim of supporting social and economic development. It will also offer the possibility for
participants to discuss The Principles of Public Administration: A Framework for the ENP
Countries. Participants are encouraged to share their experience and participate in the
discussions.
Speaking languages for the opening session will be Arabic and English. For the country
sessions, French and Russian simultaneous interpretation will be available.
The conference will be co-chaired by the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and
International Cooperation, the EC and OECD/SIGMA.
1
Footnote by the European External Action Service and the European Commission: this designation
shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual
positions of the European Union Member States on this issue.

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AGENDA
09:00-09:30 Registration and welcome coffee
Opening session
09:30-09:45 Welcome and opening of the conference
Minister Imad Najib Fakhoury
Minister of Planning and International Co-operation, Jordan
09:45-10:00 The European Neighbourhood Policy and public administration reform
Michael Koehler, Director for the Neighbourhood South, European Commission
10:00-10:15 Governance for inclusive growth – challenges for OECD and
non-OECD countries
Luiz de Mello, Deputy Director, Directorate for Public Governance and Territorial
Development, OECD
10:15-11:00 Supporting public administration reform in ENP countries
Karen Hill, Head of the SIGMA Programme
and Tour de Table
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
Presentation session
11:30-12:00 The Principles of Public Administration: A Framework for ENP
Countries
Bianca Brétéché, Regional Liaison ENP South and Keit Kasemets, Expert, SIGMA
12:00-12:30 Discussion
12:30-14:00 Lunch break

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Country session
14:00-15:00 Designing and co-ordinating public administration reforms in line with
socio-economic development agendas
(moderated panel discussion)
Panellists: 6 country representatives, 1 European Commission representative
The discussion will be opened to all participants
15:00-15:30 Coffee break
15:30-16:30 Implementing and monitoring public administration reforms
(moderated panel discussion)
Panellists: 5 country representatives, 1 OECD representative
The discussion will be opened to all participants
Closing session
16:30-17:00 Closing remarks by the European Commission and OECD
17:00 Closing of conference by a representative of Jordan
18:30-21:00 Dinner hosted by the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and
International Cooperation