"The workshop, WeLearn: Policy Cycles and Reforms in the Public Finance Sector, was valuable because, drawing on the experts’ extensive experience, we were able to walk through the entire policy-making cycle from the first step to finalization. In public administration, most of us usually specialize in only parts of the cycle or work within one stage. For example, my colleagues and I who contribute to policy formulation are often not closely involved in later stages, such as implementation or evaluation. Those responsibilities are typically handed over to other departments until the cycle is complete.

During the workshop, we revisited and connected all the key stages of policy making. We began with the core principles of good governance, which lay the foundation for effective government. From there, we followed the policy-making process from agenda setting through to finalizing successful reforms, and we also explored practical tools such as RIA (Regulatory Impact Assessment).

The highlight was the opportunity to work side by side with peers from different countries, share our experiences and diverse expertise, and then apply that learning by creating and planning a real-life policy-making scenario. Working hands-on and practicing what we learned helped us not only understand policy cycles and reforms in the public finance sector but also feel more confident about applying them. This practical experience is the final link that will help us return to our workplaces ready to share knowledge with colleagues and better understand their roles, so that the process, although divided into different stages, runs more smoothly as a whole.

From there, we continued with WeExperience: Study Visit in Belgrade, Serbia, one of the strongest parts of the We Experience component, in my view. As someone who has specialized in European law and is familiar with the EU integration process, I find it enriching to visit institutions in candidate countries and see firsthand the other side of the coin: how these countries are working toward EU integration. In Belgrade, I especially enjoyed the visits to the Ministry of European Integration and the Ministry of Education, because meeting public administrators who have worked there for several years allowed us to see the goals they pursue and the work that has been carried out over time. Alongside the progress, they also shared their challenges, which opened space for discussion among us and for exchanging experiences.

Because we are all part of the Balkan region, many of our challenges are similar. Being able not only to learn from one another, but also to adopt best practices and solutions, is a meaningful way to strengthen our own institutions and build bridges of cooperation and understanding across the region."