The course is intended to offer an extensive overview on current reforms of public administration in Europe, with particular emphasis on the changing patterns of the administrative development within (or due to) the EU membership.
In the first part main processes are analysed: reforms in European states, including changes in the civil service as a particularly important issue; decentralisation process, enhanced by the subsidiarityy principle; and the developments relating to the quality and innovation in public administration, with special reference to effectiveness and appropriate regulatory instruments.
In the second part the changing role of public administration within the EU is analysed, especially the efforts made by the European Union to help candidate countries to reform their public administrations. New European policy and regulation regarding the provision of civil services will be presented, as well as their institutional consequences (regulatory agencies). Finally, the role of public administration in implementation and coordination of European policies is analysed.
The third part offers an introduction and an overview of public administration and public sector reform in Croatia, in terms of modernisation of central government and administration, and with regard to the improvement of public services provision, both at the local level and at the state level, with special reference to the regulation agenda. Building on the previously taught units, students will be able to assess relative success of Croatian reform process within the European and EU realm.