Public Governance Series

The European Group for Public Administration (EGPA) has recently concluded its 45th Annual Conference, held from September 5th to 8th, 2023, in the vibrant city of Zagreb, Croatia. This edition was organized in close cooperation with The Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb and other key partners. 

Under the theme of 'Steering European Union through Poly-Crises Storms: The Role of Public Administration,' the event brought together more than 500 participants, including global experts and scholars in the field of public governance.

EGPA President, Prof. Jean-Michel Eymeri-Douzans, remarked, "More than 500 high-level scholars, practitioners, and young researchers attended the EGPA 2023 Conference. We had two plenary sessions with the presence of Mr. Andrej Plenković, the Prime Minister of Croatia, and four Ministers of Public Administration from the region for discussing the main theme: 'Steering European Union through poly-crises storms.' We also discussed various cutting-edge topics of administrative sciences in a joyful atmosphere!"

The opening ceremony, held on September 6th, featured a conversation with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Mr. Andrej Plenković. Mr. Plenković emphasized the complexity of crisis management, comparing it to playing chess simultaneously, requiring great focus and courageous decisions. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation with local authorities and celebrated the progress Croatia has made in terms of functional and fiscal decentralization.

"In this process," the Prime Minister noted, "cooperation with the academic community is also important, especially in establishing a better legislative framework."

Prof. Ivan Koprić, Dean of the Faculty of Law, emphasized the importance of reaffirming the values of the rule of law and professionalism in public administration. He pointed out, "The crises that we have been through in recent years, from the migrant crisis, the security crisis, the food crisis, the energy crisis, the health crisis, have shown that a public administration that is not professional - which is not well-staffed, well-educated professionals and does not adhere to legal standards - simply cannot adequately respond to the challenges."

The EGPA 2023 Conference extended its impact beyond plenary sessions, featuring panels, workshops, seminars, and study group sessions led by distinguished public administration experts. With more than 688 abstract submissions, this year's event underscored the conference's significance in advancing public administration research, education, and practice in a rapidly changing world.

The EGPA 2023 Symposium for PhD Students and young researchers was held prior the Conference opening and gathered 23 PhD students around three tracks chaired by Prof. Eckhard Schroeter, Prof. Petra Đurman and Prof. Benjamin Friedländer. Prof. Benoît Rihoux provided them with methodological tips and guidelines for locating their research projects on the ‘methodological map’.

 A highlight of the conference was the active participation of the 23 EGPA Permanent Study Groups (PSGs), each dedicated to exploring distinct facets of public administration. These groups fostered specialized discussions and collaborations among European and international scholars and practitioners.

As the IIAS Scientific Director & EGPA Executive Secretary, Dr. Fabienne Maron, commented that "The edition 2023 of the EGPA Conference also reinforced the dialogue between the Ministers, high-level civil servants, and academics on the real problems faced by Public Administration: we must look ‘on the ground’ and find concrete ideas and solutions. In the future, we will reinforce this approach and look to concrete issues at all governance levels."

Diverse panels addressing a wide array of themes enriched the EGPA 2023 Conference. These thought-provoking sessions included discussions on the evolving role of the New Neo Weberian State, the intersection of The Social Economy and Public Administration, strategies for Administrative Crisis Management and Governance, and innovative approaches to Advancing Engaged Research in Public Administration. In addition, the Round Table of the French-speaking Seminar, organized in collaboration with IGPDE, delved into the intriguing topic of 'Supporting the transformations of public services and policies: A reinvention of the State's internal consulting processes.' These panels and discussions added depth and diversity to the conference, providing attendees with valuable insights and fresh perspectives on critical issues in public administration.

The event also drew significant attention on social media platforms, with attendees sharing their experiences and insights. Dr. Ian Elliott, Chair of the EGPA PSG IX on Teaching Public Administration, tweeted, "What to say about #EGPA2023. Beautiful country, terrific organization, stimulating discussions, prestigious keynote speakers, joyous gala dinner, I could go on! Thank you to Ivan Koprić, the whole local organizing team and of course all the EGPA/IIAS team."

Dr. Albert Meijer, Chair of the PSG I on e-government, commented, "We had wonderful presentations and discussions in our study group on e-government at #EGPA2023. Many thanks to all the presenters and discussants! Also our thanks to the organizers from Zagreb! And we look forward to seeing all of you again in Athens for #EGPA2024."

Best Paper Awards

During the conference, several prestigious awards were presented to recognize outstanding research contributions. The IRAS - Christopher Pollitt Award for the Best Article in 2021 was bestowed upon the authors of the paper titled "How do international bureaucrats affect policy outputs? Studying administrative influence strategies in international organizations," namely, Jörn Ege, Michael W. Bauer, and Nora Wagner. The PSG I e-Government Best Paper Award went to the authors of the paper titled "The doings behind data: An ethnography of police data," with Isabelle Fest as the lead author. Furthermore, the Best Young Researcher Paper Award 2023 of the PSG III on Public Personnel Policies was presented to the authors of the paper titled "The Relevance of Gendered Language in Public Sector Job Advertisements for Recruiting Processes and Outcomes," authored by Martin Sievert, Dominik Vogel, and Matthias Döring.

About the EGPA Conference

Founded in 1975, EGPA continues to be a dynamic platform that promotes collaboration among European and global academics, researchers, practitioners, and young scientists in the realm of public administration. Operating under the IIAS, EGPA facilitates intellectual dialogue through plenary debates, seminars, symposia, and workshops across its 23 Permanent Study Groups.

The EGPA 2023 Conference, held in Zagreb, will be remembered for its stimulating discussions, collaboration among experts, and its role in advancing the field of public administration. It reinforced the belief that navigating crises and improving governance require concerted efforts, and the EGPA community stands ready to take on these challenges.

Additionally, for those who missed the event, the opening ceremony is available on the IIAS YouTube channel. This allows individuals worldwide to watch the insightful address by Mr. Andrej Plenković, the Prime Minister of Croatia, and having a glimpse of the thought-provoking discussions that marked the EGPA 2023 Conference.

A Special Thank You Message

Finally, a special thank you to the Zagreb Team under the leadership of Prof Ivan Koprić for the great cooperation and the nice atmosphere for hosting EGPA 2023 Conference! EGPA and IIAS extend gratitude to all the chairs, speakers, and participants who contributed to the success of this conference.