Public service and human resource management

About

The capacity of a government to deliver policies and quality services for its citizens depends on the professionalism and integrity of its civil servants, who should be managed according to international standards and EU practices.

Key elements

International standards and EU practices recommend:

An effective and efficient institutional set-up, with well-defined roles and responsibilities.
Human resource policies and strategies that are fairly and consistently applied.
Merit-based recruitment and promotion, transparent and fair remuneration, and sysematic professional development for civil servants.
Political neutrality.

The state administration should be developed according to clear policies and regulations, to ensure a rational, effective and efficient institutional structure.

Administrative legislation that protects public interest and citizens’ rights, together with independent oversight institutions, are also needed to ensure effective compliance of administrative authorities with the rule of law. All of these elements are essential for enhancing the trust of citizens in public institutions.

What SIGMA does

SIGMA assists EU candidate countries, potential candidates and neighbourhood countries in building their civil services, reforming their state administrations and strengthening their administrative legal frameworks. By sharing professional expertise from EU member states, this process helps them to implement reforms and improve their performance.