"With numerous challenges in public administration, strategic consideration is required about how and in what fields should public administration be developed in the future," said Sanja Ajanović Hovnik, Minister of Public Administration also functioning as the Minister of the Interior, at the start of the session. "We want to work for people and enhance their trust, which is why the Expert council will define its objectives and work with measurable indicators in compliance with the timeline set for the implementation of objectives," she added.

The Minister continued that the Expert council will substantially observe the coalition commitments and carry out its tasks in three central work fields and in three working groups: in the field of high-quality regulations based on evidence and incorporation of the public in policy making (the Resolution on Legislative Regulation will be highlighted, in which the enforcement of citizen participation and implementation of the regulatory impact assessment will be of highest importance); in the field of reorganisation of administrative units for better quality of public services directed towards users in synergy with local self-government, and in the field of regulation of administrative procedures and digitisation of administrative operations (the intent is to update administrative processes).

In connection with these work fields, three working groups will function within the strategic council: the group for high-quality regulations based on evidence and incorporation of the public in policy making, the group for reorganisation of administrative units for better quality of public services directed towards users in synergy with local self-government, and the group for regulation of administrative procedures and digitisation of administrative operations.

Today’s first session particularly focused on the agreement about the work method, definition of key objectives, familiarisation with the rules of procedure, and the formation of working groups.

The Expert council is led by Minister Sanja Ajanović Hovnik and the Council’s expert head is Prof Dr Polonca Kovač of the Faculty of Administration of the University of Ljubljana. The total number of council members amounts to 28 and they come from public and private sectors, i.e. ministries, government offices, administrative units, municipalities, municipal associations, non-governmental organisations, faculties, the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, and the business sector.

The Expert council for sustainable development of public administration was established in December 2022 with the aim of ensuring high-quality services, improving the business environment, working and living conditions of citizens, and increasing the competences of public employees. The main objective of the Council is to improve public trust in public institutions, strategic governance of public institutions and coordinated development of public administration.