European Public Administration Research Articles

In memoriam Prof. Dr. Dr.h.c.mult. György Jenei

Professor Dr. Dr.h.c.mult. György Jenei, the doyen of Central and Eastern European Public Administration, passed away peacefully on 4 February 2024; born in 1942, he was 82 years old. He was for many decades the leading figure of the field in our region; he personified it; he had preserved it during darker times; and he had led it again to prominence since 1989, with persistence, integrity, and style. He did so both in form and in contents – the former both at his home, Corvinus University of Budapest, and in his many leadership functions in professional and scholarly associations, including the NISPAcee Presidency during the crucial years of the Global Financial Crisis. And he truly did carry the torch of Public Administration during the times when its inefficiency was not an accident, but a core part of the local system; Professor Jenei’s early work on Max Weber was undertaken at a time when this was a politically highly incorrect thing to do.

ІНТЕГРАЦІЙНІ ПРОЦЕСИ В СФЕРІ ДЕРЖАВНОГО УПРАВЛІННЯ В УМОВАХ РОСІЙСЬКО-УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ ВІЙНИ

The goal of the work. The article examines integration processes in the sphere of public administration in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war. On the basis of the analysis, generalization and systematization of scientific sources, the trends of the development of integration processes in the sphere of public administration in modern conditions are highlighted, the need for further efforts in the direction of European integration is proved. Methodology. To achieve the goal, the article used methods of structuring problems, summarizing statistical data and facts, and developing strategic solutions. Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of the article is that the author justified the steps aimed at reconstruction and effective mobilization of public administration resources to restore the ability of all levels of government, regions and municipalities of Ukraine to solve problems that bring the state closer to EU membership. In the article, the author highlights those problems that were not solved in the pre-war period of the state's development. In particular, we are talking about the need to optimize the system of state regulation, which should be aimed at promoting economic growth and increasing the level of well-being of citizens, as well as at achieving a new quality of state control, creating a "welfare state." The author proposes his own approach to solving the mentioned problems, which is based on the gradual reform of the public administration system, which should lead to a new quality of administration, bringing it closer to the European system of public management. Conclusions. It was concluded that the innovative transformation of the Ukrainian state, its transformation into a European-type state is impossible without changes in the sphere of public administration. The innovations proposed in the article will give a new impetus to the socio-economic development of Ukraine in the post-war period, creating the necessary conditions for the country's full integration into the EU by improving the public administration system. During the war, all authorities gain important experience in development planning and financing, which can be used in the post-war period to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of strategic decisions related to the rapprochement with the European Union. Nowadays, the executive authorities should build their capacity, analyze and implement the best European experience, try to adopt the style of management and communication, which is inherent in the European public administration practice.

Процеси реформування в системі державного управління в умовах російсько-української війни: адаптивний сценарій

The relevance of the chosen problem is due to the consideration that the transition to a modern system of public administration with strong institutions supported by the rule of law will require the Ukrainian government to make steps that should be undertaken during hostilities, to elaborate those strategic priorities that will direct the State towards democratization and the European integration. The article discusses integration processes in the field of public administration in the context of the russian-Ukrainian war. On the basis of the analysis, generalization and systematization of scientific sources, the tendencies of development of integration processes in the sphere of public administration in modern conditions are highlighted, the need for further efforts in the direction of the European integration is proved. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the substantiation by the author of the steps aimed at reconstruction and effective mobilization of public administration resources for restoring the ability of all levels of government, regions and municipalities of Ukraine to solve problems that bring the country closer to membership in the European Union. The article brings forward the argument that today the model of «proper governance» is one of the most attractive alternatives to the model of public administration, the implementation of which is possible in the presence of a number of conditions, the observance of which appears problematic, taking into account the problems resulting from military aggression, but, at the same time, even today the State can take certain steps to implement the model of «proper governance». At this, the basic postulates of the model allow us to say that «proper governance» is not just one of the options for public administration, but rather the philosophy of organizing life in the State, which provides for cooperation as the main form of interaction between various participants in those processes (social, economic, political, informational) that characterize the genuine diversity of the activities of the modern State. The author came to the conclusion that during the wartime, all authorities acquire important experience in development of the planning and financing, which can be used in the post-war period to increase the operativeness and efficiency of strategic decisions related to the approximation to the European Union. Nowadays, the executive authorities should build capacity, analyze and implement the best European experience, try to adopt the style of management and communication that is inherent in the European public administration practice.

POST-WAR RECOVERY OF UKRAINE: REFORMS AND PUBLIC POLICY INITIATIVES

The article analyses the main directions of formation of the State policy on post-war re­construction of Ukraine, which consists in timely implementation of reforms and creation of conditions for their effective implementation. The author analyses the proposals for priority reforms and strategic initiatives reflected in the action plan for post-war recovery and develop­ment of Ukraine. It is established that the Recovery Plan in the field of European integration and public administration reform are cross-cutting, as they serve as the foundation and contrib­ute to the further promotion and implementation of all reforms in the country. It is established that among the problems that arise today within the framework of the European integration process are the following: policy development system - the lack of a legal framework that would regulate the entire process of policy analysis and development, and a prescribed strategy for its development. It is determined that the main aspects of public admin­istration reform should be the creation of a modern model of public authority to help ensure state security and law and order, territorial development in accordance with the principles of EU regional policy and the development of sectoral management mechanisms in accordance with the European principle of freedom, management of public affairs and provision of pub­lic services. It is noted that in order to implement the anti-corruption policy, it is appropriate not only to strengthen the regulatory and legal component, but also to involve civil society institutions in combating corruption, since they are mediated by the purpose of mediation be­tween the population and the State. Among the functions that civil society should perform in anti-corruption activities are: control of access to information, its truthfulness and openness, protection of the rights of certain social groups, and active interference in the activities of state bodies to stop corruption.

Evaluating Compliance with Good Governance Principles by Political and Administrative Actors in Project Implementation and Management in Tanzania: A Case Study of Selected Local Government Authority Projects

Governance and government are terms used interchangeably and have been a global matter since the beginning of public administration in Europe. The application of practices such as transparency, accountability, impartiality, democracy and rule of law by all parties participating in government operations is ensured through governance, which is a fundamental component of new public management. This paper sought to examine elected and appointed officials' compliance with good governance principles in implementing and managing development projects, using Dar es Salaam Rapid Transit System (DARTS) as a case study in Dar-es-Salaam Municipalities. The study involved four municipalities where DARTS project passes. This study was based on interpretivism philosophy and implemented a phenomenology-case study design following a qualitative approach where data was collected through Key Informant Interviews (KI), Focus group discussions (FGDs) and Documentary Review (DR). Data from the study were analysed and evaluated using thematic analysis. Due to a lack of effective governance procedures, the study discovered that some of decisions related to project implementation and management were not rational as it was observed during contraction of phase one BRT bus terminal at the flood area at Jangwani. According to the study, the two sides worked closely together throughout the design phase, but when things go wrong during implementation and management, politicians would sometimes act irrationally toward the public for political advantage in order to manipulate voters for future political gains.

PRINCIPLES OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE CONDITIONS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of domestic developments in the field of professional development of civil servants; considers the tasks of professional development put forward by the implementation of Ukraine’s European integration vector; summarises the principles of professional development of civil servants, reveals their content and methods of implementation. The competences relevant for civil servants in the context of Ukraine’s path to European public administration standards are highlighted and summarised. Recommendations are made to educational service providers on the peculiarities of forming curricula and programmes for the professional development of civil servants in the context of Ukraine’s European integration. It is determined that adherence to the basic principles of professional development of civil servants should contribute to improving the efficiency of public administration and achieving the strategic goals of the State. In addition, the purpose of the article is to popularise the principles of professional development among a wide audience, which serves to form a conscious approach to the management of public resources and the development of the culture of the rule of law in Ukraine. It is emphasized that the implementation of the principles of professional development of civil servants in the context of European integration is possible with the use of the best educational practices and introduction of educational innovations which form relev of self-knowledge, self-development and self-realization. Modern educational practices that are useful in implementing the principles of professional development of civil servants in the context of European integration include, in particular, the following: simulators of management decisions and proposals that allow students to develop their own ideas and approaches to the formation and adoption of management decisions based on real cases, discuss them with practitioners and experts; training technologies; project management approaches; design thinking technologies that allow to direct training activities to solve specific problems of professional activity of public servants, to improve the service delivery system; involvement of foreign experts, including for the preparation and implementation of partnership training programmes; creation of online training platforms and training centres in public authorities.

The impact of legacy systems on digital transformation in European public administration: Lesson learned from a multi case analysis

Legacy systems have continued to pose a major challenge to digital transformation efforts in public administration. A comprehensive review of literature suggests seven levels of complexity in transforming legacy systems, including, being a stand-alone system, being part of a larger system, and data incompatibility, each depicting unique criteria and challenges. Nonetheless, very little is known as to what degree these complexities implicate the implementation of digital transformation efforts in public administration (PA). To address this gap, this research conducted an analysis on four cases of digital transformation in three European PA settings (i.e., Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK). The findings revealed complexities that pose the key challenges to systems interoperability and integrability, which are crucial in any digital transformation project. In addition, a comprehensive understanding of the systems to be transformed, the policies which they are serving, and the broader PA setting in which they are implemented were deemed central to succeeding in digital transformation efforts.

Collaboration between social science data archives and scientific journals in the development and implementation of data sharing policies

Major commercial scientific journal publishers have already introduced data sharing and citation policies, while independent journals are implementing such changes more slowly. As more and more funders of scientific research require researchers to make their research data as open as possible, all journals will have to adapt to support new ways of scientific communication. Social science data archives in Europe and around the world were established decades ago and have collectively accumulated vast experience in dealing with data, especially data that are sometimes hard to share because of various ethical and legal concerns. Because of this knowledge, they also have a role to play in supporting journal editors and publishers in developing and implementing editorial policies related to data sharing and citation.In this short talk we will present examples of support activities for journals from the Slovenian and Croatian Social Science Data Archive (ADP and CROSSDA, respectively). Both are service providers (SPs) for CESSDA ERIC, a recognised European research infrastructure (RIs) for social sciences.As a coordinator of the project establishing Research Data Alliance (RDA) Node in Slovenia, ADP prepared guidelines for Slovenian journals on implementing editorial policies related to data sharing and data citation (Štebe, Bezjak, Dolinar, 2020). These guidelines are based on internationally renowned practices and policies, particularly the RDA Research Data Policy Framework (Hrynaszkiewicz, I., at. al., 2020) and were adopted by four journals (from fields of archaeology, history, linguistics and social sciences) in a pilot phase (Štebe, Dolinar, Bezjak, Inkret, 2020).Both ADP and CROSSDA are part of the ongoing CESSDA Journals Outreach project, which started in 2020. As part of the project, editors-in-chief of several social science journals were invited to share their views on data sharing and to discuss how data archives can provide support. At the same time, CESSDA SPs answered to a survey whose aim was to explore the capacities of data archives to support journals. In 2021, two events were organised for researchers, journal publishers, and data archives to discuss transparency in social science research and the challenges of sharing data through publications.By now, ADP has helped three Slovenian journals to implement research data policies: Socialno delo, Central European Public Administration Review, and Economic and Business Review. These policies are not mandatory, and so far, no author decided to share their data before publishing the article. The journal Javnost, in turn, has taken a different approach. The guest editor of one supplement issue asked the authors who had passed peer review to share and cite their data before publishing with the support of ADP. All authors agreed to make additional effort and prepare the data, documentation, and metadata, so that their results could be verified, and data reused.In Croatia, one journal, Croatian Sociological Review, introduced its first open science policy, which is partly based on the TOP Guidelines (Nosek at al., 2021) and includes several elements of research transparency, not just data transparency (Vučković Juroš, 2021). Data sharing will not be mandatory, and transparency will be implemented taking into consideration various epistemological assumptions in the humanities and social sciences. The next step is to set up instructions for authors and reviewers to make this policy official, which will be done in cooperation with CROSSDA.

Accesul în funcția publică la nivel european - Marea Britanie, Austria, Italia

In the sphere of government activity, a particularly important role is given to the public function performed by the human factor within the bodies and authorities of the public administration. The staff of the European public administration through which the law is implemented and the public interests are satisfied is constituted for the most part by a civil service body subject to a legal regime of public law. The body of civil servants represents the largest part of the public administration, and this paper aims to present European models on access to public office, but also making a comparison between the presented models that ultimately reflect positive aspects that can be taken over in other administrative systems, including the national one.

Вплив новітніх концепцій державного управління в країнах ЄС на розвиток системи соціальної роботи

Розглянуто досвід та інноваційні методи управління і стандартні процедури вдержавному управлінні країн Європейського Союзу та їх вплив на ефективність надання соціальних послуг. Зроблено аналіз розповсюдження неоліберальних політичних переконань та принципів нового державного управління (далі – NPM) у європейських країнах із початку 80-х рр. ХХ ст. і до сьогодні, що суттєво вплинуло на існуючу систему соціальної роботи. Виокремлено дієві інструменти: інформатизація, дебюрократизація, децентралізація, деінституціалізація, деконцентрація (аутсорсинг), приватизація та запровадження економічних механізмів регулювання управлінських процесів і сервісне адміністрування, які можна впровадити у реформування державного управління системою соціальної роботи в українському суспільстві.

USE OF THE MECHANISM OF CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT OF INNOVATIVE TRANSFORMATIONS OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE

The formation and implementation of innovative activities in public administration is a fundamental problem in both theoretical and practical aspects. Public administration in the current conditions of Ukraine's development requires significant changes due to the active processes of digital transformation of the state's interaction with society, and the use of innovative tools and technologies used in world practice. The article establishes the morphological paradigm of modern public administration within the framework of reforming and innovative transformations of the public administration system. The task of the mechanism of cultural and educational support of innovative transformations of public administration is defined. The essence of the concept of "public administration" is investigated, the decomposition analysis of definition of the concept "mechanism of public management" is carried out. The quality of public administration in the field of formation of innovative mechanisms of interaction between political, local self-government bodies, governmental structures, business and civil society organizations is worked out. The concept of "mechanism of cultural and educational support of innovative transformations of public administration" is revealed. It is proposed to outline a comprehensive system of managerial influence on civil society, which gives the implementation of innovations in public administration based on the application of the achievements of cultural and educational space in order to achieve progressive evolutionary social development. The main directions of development of innovative activity in public administration of Ukraine are defined — fixing of strategic priorities of the state innovation policy, maintenance of conditions of application of model of innovative activity in system of public management and improvement of the current legislation in the field of innovative activity in public management. The primary experience for outlining innovations common in Western European public administration, the strategy of joint innovations based on cooperation and communication of public, private and public actors with different levels of experience and resources can be traced. Much attention is paid to the formation of barriers to cooperation within the strategy and the factors that directly affect their emergence. It is argued that the organization of cooperation processes stimulates the creation of innovative solutions.

Theoretical and Applied Aspects of Public Governance in the Field of Tourism in the Conditions of Adaptation to EU Standards

The article is devoted to the study of public administration in the field of tourism in terms of adaptation to the standards of the European Union. Emphasis placed on the fact that the state of domestic policy in the field of tourism does not meet modern world standards of industry management at the state level. In connection with the transition from a planned to a market model of state development in the last two decades, there have been clear problems that prevent the full use of the tourist and recreational potential of Ukraine. On the one hand, the underdevelopment of domestic tourism correlates with the general problems of political, social and economic nature inherent in developing countries at a certain stage of their development. On the other hand — the lack of the necessary methodological framework and lack of methodological developments for state regulation of tourism correlates with the impossibility of practical application of tourism laws, tourism development programs and the formation of tourism regulation structures at the national level, which directly and indirectly affect the adaptation of Ukrainian legislation and state-management activities in accordance with the standards of the European Union. Based on the results of doctrinal and comprehensive research, it concluded that in the context of promoting the gradual convergence of domestic and European public administration environment, strengthening economic and trade relations that will lead to Ukraine’s gradual integration into the EU internal market, expanding cooperation based on the rule of law and respect for the rule of law. Human rights and fundamental freedoms, the sphere of tourism occupies one of the key aspects not only at the national level but also at the international level. At the same time, in the context of adaptation of domestic legislation and public administration to EU standards, it is advisable to develop a methodology and action plan aimed at implementing the holistic guidelines and principles enshrined at the European level.

Social media communication of public institutions. Case study: Representation of the European Commission in Romania

With the development of social networks and their becoming as the main means of informing citizens about the activities of local, central and European public administration, more and more institutions have synchronized their institutional communication strategy with the functioning mechanisms and characteristics of Social Media. At the same time, in the age of social networks, concepts for authority and control of the public message have been reconfigured, and most public institutions have understood that in Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube, etc.), institutions do not have control over the message, but the essential role in the dissemination and control of the message is played by the online public.

AUDIT AS AN ELEMENT OF PUBLIC GOVERNANCE

Abstract. The article considers some aspects of the implementation of the audit system of public administration, taking into account the transformation processes of national socio-economic systems, taking into account the domestic realities of society. At present, Ukraine is on the path of transition to European integration processes, including in the system of reorganization of public power. An effective mechanism for controlling and monitoring the implementation of management functions is the introduction of public administration audit. Public audit is a traditional management process in the European public administration system. However, for Ukraine such processes are new and require adjustment of regulatory and legal support, organizational structures, financial support and managerial transformations in the public sector system in order to implement an effective public audit system. The article considers the theoretical aspects of public audit, which define it as a management process of high public importance. In addition, public administration audit is defined as a type of professional activity that requires taking into account not only the general principles of auditing, but also the specifics of public administration: publicity, high social significance, political and economic lobbying processes. Objects of public audit are considered, their characteristic is given. As a result of the analysis, the priority of conducting a public audit is determined in the system of planning, formation and distribution of budget funds at different levels. A model of public audit of budget processes has been developed and described, which provides not only control of expenditures, but also their rationalization by improving management mechanisms. Problematic aspects of the implementation of public audit in practice will be the subject of further research. The audit will contribute to the rationalization of the use of budget funds, the establishment of an effective set of management processes. Keywords: audit, public audit, budgeting, mechanisms of public administration, public administration, audit of public administration Formilas: 0; fig.: 3; tabl.: 0; bibl.: 10.

Modern Models of Public Administration in EU Countries: Implementation Experience

The comparative characteristics of European public administration systems are presented. Particular attention is paid to new models of public administration in EU countries: New Public Management (NPM); New Public Governance (NPG) or New public service (NPS); Good Governance (GG). Both positive and negative characteristics of these government models are listed. Successful reform of public administration is revealed through the creation of appropriate institutions and adherence to the relevant principles, procedures, and standards of public administration and values that should be guided by civil servants. It is proved that the sphere of organization of public administration and civil service in the EU has wide experience through the implementation of so-called «soft» standards. The focus is on highlighting effective tools for reforming public administration in the EU, their main functions. The implications of NPM implementation for European regions, which were adapted by Walter Kicker’s presentation, are outlined. The key features of the new public administration and the cardinal directions of administrative reforms implemented in each EU country are identified, as well as the improvement of the main interconnected components of the public administration system, which include: institutions; rules and procedures, processes and mechanisms for coordination of cooperation; personnel potential. The realization of the reform of the public administration through the reform of administrative procedures, the development of the civil service, the process of decentralization and agencification were clarified. In modern democratic states, managerial innovations are aimed at supporting market mechanisms for democratization of public authorities; market marketing (transformation) of the work of the state with the mass introduction of methods of state managerialism. In these government models, a customer-centric approach is put in place to develop an appropriate strategy based on consumer values, meeting expectations from service providers and implementing information technology.

DEVELOPING COMPETENCES OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION SPECIALISTS: IMPLEMENTATION OF FOREIGN EXPERIENCE IN UKRAINE

The paper focuses on the comparative analysis of professional competences development in public management and administration university programmes and the possibilities of implementation of international experience in Ukraine. Using the methods of comparative and system-functional analysis, synthesis and generalisation, the authors concentrate on the features of curriculums in public administration field taking into account the current realities of social development. The most common methods of training in the field of public administration and their practical focus are analysed. Particular attention is paid to the methods of problem-based learning in public administration, including case studies, case scenarios, and simulation games as part of the education gamification. The authors carried out an essential comparison of competences adopted in the European public administration training and those defined in the Ukrainian Standard of Higher Education in this area and revealed that the Ukrainian Standard lacks a pool of competencies related to the development and analysis of public policy.

Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Approved Combination BRAF and MEK Inhibitor Regimens for BRAF-Mutant Melanoma.

No head-to-head studies exist comparing BRAF inhibitor/MEK inhibitor (BRAFi/MEKi) combination treatments for BRAF-mutant melanoma. A side-by-side analysis of randomized phase III trials is presented that evaluated dabrafenib/trametinib, vemurafenib/cobimetinib, and encorafenib/binimetinib. The baseline characteristics, efficacy, and safety were compared: COMBI-v (dabrafenib/trametinib versus vemurafenib); coBRIM (vemurafenib/cobimetinib versus vemurafenib); and COLUMBUS (encorafenib/binimetinib versus encorafenib and vemurafenib). Vemurafenib was the control arm in all studies. The data sources included literature databases, European public assessment reports, U.S. Food and Drug Administration review documents, and prescribing information. The baseline characteristics were similar, except for coBRIM, which had a higher proportion of patients with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) were similar across the trials, although numerically higher values were observed with encorafenib/binimetinib. In contrast, the median overall survival (OS) was numerically longer with encorafenib/binimetinib (33.6 months) compared to dabrafenib/trametinib (25.6 months) and vemurafenib/cobimetinib (22.3 months). Among vemurafenib arms, PFS, ORR, and OS were similar, despite variations in the baseline LDH. Each combination displayed a unique safety profile, with higher incidences of pyrexia with dabrafenib/trametinib and photosensitivity reactions with vemurafenib/cobimetinib. This analysis of BRAFi/MEKi combinations for BRAF-mutant melanoma, while limited as not a direct head-to-head clinical trial, highlights the differences in tolerability and efficacy that may be useful for therapeutic decision making.

Bearing the White Man’s Burden: American Empire and the Origin of Public Administration

AbstractThere is an overlooked chapter in the history of American public administration: the experiment with colonial administration in the two decades following the Spanish-American War. Several scholars now identified as pioneers of American public administration were actively engaged in this project. They studied European empires closely to determine how the new American dependencies should be governed. This work was guided by beliefs about racial superiority and the duty of civilized nations to improve uncivilized peoples through colonization. This episode of administrative history provides insight into how American academics thought about race and public administration in the early decades of the twentieth century, both overseas and within the United States. It compels a reassessment of our understandings about their commitment to democracy, and about the supposed differences between American and European public administration at that time.

Bearing the White Man's Burden: American Empire and the Origin of Public Administration

There is an overlooked chapter in the history of American public administration: the experiment with colonial administration in the two decades following the Spanish-American War. Several scholars now identified as pioneers of American public administration were actively engaged in this project. They studied European empires closely to determine how the new American dependencies should be governed. This work was guided by beliefs about racial superiority and the duty of civilized nations to improve uncivilized peoples through colonization. This episode of administrative history provides insight into how American academics thought about race and public administration in the early decades of the twentieth century, both overseas and within the United States. It compels a reassessment of our understandings about their commitment to democracy, and about the supposed differences between American and European public administration at that time.

A magyar közigazgatás az „Európai Közigazgatási Térségben”

The study tries to find out where the Hungarian public administration can be located in the European Administrative Space. For this, however, it is first necessary to clarify what is meant by this concept and how it has changed. To do so, however, the meaning of European public administration and administrative law and the institutional framework in which the administration of the EU member states can be evaluated should be reviewed. After all this, only the subject in the title can be explained. In doing so, one of the most important questions is to answer the question of whether there is a convergence of Member State administrations on a common European value system?