About this learning event

This workshop will address the persistent gap between formal compliance and effective public procurement practice across Armenia, Moldova, Ukraine, and the Western Balkans, , with a focus on competition, integrity, and value for money. Public procurement is one of the most consequential functions of public financial management (PFM), yet implementation and results continue to lag behind the strength of legislative frameworks. It is also a core area of Chapter 5 of the EU accession acquis.

The workshop responds to findings from the latest SIGMA Monitoring Reports, consolidated in SIGMA Paper No. 76, Overview of Public Procurement Systems in the Western Balkans. While legislative frameworks reach 84% of the maximum score for alignment with the EU acquis, implementation stands at 66% and results at just 38%. In several administrations, more than half of competitive procedures attract only one tender, awards rely heavily on the lowest price, and many high-value contracts are subject to special regimes or exemptions.

The workshop will combine regional evidence, comparative practice, and small-group work, drawing on the technical expertise of SIGMA/OECD, CEF, and CIPFA, as well as established good-practice frameworks. The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Public Procurement Bureau will contribute practical country experience, including lessons from the Electronic System for Public Procurement (ESPP).

Who should attend

This workshop is intended for public procurement authorities, ministries, contracting authorithies and central purchasing bodies, review and remedies bodies, audit and oversight institutions, competition and anti-corruption bodies, inspection services, and e-procurement authorities.

Important information

This workshop is organised in close cooperation between ReSPA, OECD/SIGMA and CEF.

Practical information

Applications for the workshop are avaliable on ReSPA event page.

Partners

This learning initiative is supported by: