NAPA TRAINEES ON A STUDY VISIT TO INSTITUTIONS IN BRUSSELS

Representatives of the National Academy of Public Administration and the first group of 22 trainees attending the training project "Strengthening the Professional Capacities of Senior Civil Servants in Serbia", which is implemented by the Academy and financed by the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, were on a study visit to Brussels in the period 7-9^th February 2023. The aim of the visit was to improve their knowledge related to the process of accession of the Republic of Serbia to the European Union, which is part of the training programme "Membership in the EU", intended for managers in the public administration.

Senior civil servants had the opportunity to visit the EU institutions and meet their officials. In the European Parliament, they were addressed by, among others, Vladimir Bilčik, EP rapporteur for Serbia, as well as David McAllister, president of the EP Foreign Policy Committee, who presented the current issues identified in the process of Serbia’s joining the EU and the way EU bodies work.

Support in realising this visit was provided by the Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the EU, and the Head of the Mission, Ambassador Ana Hrustanović, addressed the delegation of the study visit on the first day and spoke about the current state of affairs in the process of Serbia’s joining the EU.

The visit also included meetings with representatives of the General Directorates - DG NEAR and DG CNECT, then a tour of the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the EU, where the delegation received first-hand insights about the process of Slovenia’s joining the EU, as well as how the EU mechanism looks now from the perspective of EU Member States. On the last working day, the delegation also visited the EU's Foreign Policy Service (EEAS) and learned more about the creation and implementation of the EU's common foreign and security policy.

In the continuous training process, preparations are underway for the study trip of the second group of senior civil servants, which will take place in April this year.