“Citizens do not judge institutions by our plans and promises. They judge them by the services they receive, the responses they await and the trust they have in the system. Our goal is for knowledge to become the driving force of the administration, professionalism to become its standard, and citizens’ trust to become its greatest achievement,” said Minister of Public Administration Goran Minchev in his address at the third cycle of generic training sessions for administrative officials in 2026, held in Kumanovo for civil servants from the Northeastern Region.
Minchev emphasised that public administration reform is now taking on a concrete institutional and legal foundation, with progress also recognised in the European Commission’s 2026 Report. The report highlights steps taken to strengthen the capacities of the Ministry of Public Administration, improve the human resources management system, and establish a more sustainable framework for ensuring the professional and accountable functioning of the administration.
“The European Commission’s assessments are an important indication that we are on a reform path that must continue with even greater momentum. But what matters most to us is that reforms do not remain merely legal solutions and institutional changes. They must be reflected in the daily work of institutions and in the services citizens receive,” Minchev stressed.
Addressing the next phase of professionalising the administration, Minchev highlighted the establishment of the Academy for Professional Development and Training of Administrative Officials as one of the key pillars of the reform.
“We are not establishing the Academy simply to add another institution to the system. We are creating it to put in place a mechanism that will ensure continuous learning, high-quality programmes, unified standards and genuine opportunities for professional development.
We want knowledge not to end with training, but to be applied in the workplace and deliver better results,” Minchev stated.
As part of the reform process, the minister also referred to new legislative solutions concerning senior managers, administrative officials and public-sector employees, which introduce clearer professional criteria, performance-based evaluations and greater accountability at work.
“The Ministry of Public Administration continues to build a system in which knowledge is valued, professionalism is encouraged and accountability is a standard for everyone. The ultimate goal is to create a strong, competent and efficient administration that responds to citizens’ needs and earns their trust through quality services and tangible results,” Minchev concluded.
