1-Progress and only progress
If we would look closely at the activity of the Ministry of Innovation and Public Administration we would think that here the work is equally divided between Innovation and Technology and Public Administration. One month is dedicated to one and the next month to the other.
Since we are talking about the administration we have to be reminded that since her appointment in this position Minister Harito emphasized the public administration reform according to European requirements and standards, a reform that has already started and seems endless. A lot of talks, meetings, discussions, promotions progress etc., but where are we really?
This month calmness is not missing. From publications in the official website we learn that 3 official activities were conducted as follows:
Albania and the European Commission discuss the progress in the administration reform.
Presentation of the Project Support for the civil service reform in Albania.
Agreement on the cofinancing of the Center for Public Services.
Prezantimi i Projektit Mbështetje për reformën e Shërbimit Civil në Shqipëri
During this month the fifth meeting of the special Group for Public Administration Reform was help where Albanian and EC representatives discussed on the progress of the reform in administration. During this meeting Ms. Michella Matuella reminded that Public Administration Reform is one of the key pillars of EU integration.
While minister Harito declared that: ‘’Public Administration Reform is one of the priorities of the Albanian government, because we are aware of the fact that every reform undertaken, every act and political will that is not supported in a sustainable and professional public administration will be short lived. Strengthening and professionalization of public administration is necessary for the country’s progress and like in other developed countries, public administration should guarantee continuity and state professionalism’’.
She continued with a summary of the achievements made so far regarding the reform focusing on legislative changes, approving the comprehensive reform in PA and changing the recruiting methods for civil service, functionality of the system and managing human resources.
Referring to these data we understand that the progress remains at the horizontal plan, which means in the theoretical and philosophical framework, not the practical one. There is no reference to statistics and figures or reports/ Anyone would appreciate these initiatives, programs and strategies in function of improving administrative services and employment according to EU standards, but the fact that the majority of citizens remain sceptical regarding the transparency of selective processes or application of employment policies and performance improvement in the Albanian public administration. There is a continuing discussion about reforms and stability, but there are no guarantees yet.
Therefore, according to contestation from the citizens themselves the situation remains problematic and we have an increase in the unemployment rate as well as a shrinkage before phenomenons like: ‘’militantism’’. Therefore, the Public Administration Reforms remains a challenge. The problematics are related to bad management of competitive processes and lack of transparency from the institutional side through online procedures which brings a cloud of doubt regarding the proper fight against corruption and respecting meritocracy.
2-Trainings for the administration
Another project worth 1.8 million $ is the one to support the Civil Service Reform in Albania, which aims to bring the country closer to implementing the new law on Civil Service and new legislation egarding administrative procedures in accordance with EU requirements. The projects focuses on strengthening the managerial capacities of civil service by training of trainers and civil employees on new procedures steming from implementing the new legislation for the civil service and administrative procedures.
These are valuable projects for increasing the capacities of Public administration and investments that should not be lost, but the real challenge is their practical application and the fight against bureaucracy to ensure timely and efficient services.
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