1. The first topic related to steps needed to build capacities given increasingly binding budget constraints and a weakening research sector throughout the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region. Workshops participants opined that the co-ordination of all sectors was important to build these capacities – with special participation from the “grass roots” level and the private sector (which could provide finance needed to help alleviate budgetary constraints). Given such non-government participation, such co-ordination would involve bottom-up as well as top-down type co-ordination. The development of human capacities through training and the institutional development to undertake such training (and engage in benchmarking) were perceived as important – with the caveat that these institutions be further equipped and strengthened instead of created ex-nihilo. A vital area of such capacity building is at the local level where transparency, accountability, public awareness and general participation should be encouraged.
   
   
2. The second topic related to staunching the degradation of politico-administrative relations. While publicity of corruption cases is an important way of ensuring political probity and integrity, rules for politicians, politician training, as well as codes of conduct for both politicians and civil servants can set an important framework for ensuring public sector integrity. While such activities are important in the short-term, a strategic vision and clarification of relations between politicians and business would establish a positive framework for politico-administrative relations in the long-term. 
   
   
3. The third topic related to moving from a focus on the quality of service delivery to the quality of policy development involves consultation with stakeholders as much as possible in order to tailor policy toward the ‘objects’ of such policy. Benchmarking, monitoring and more generally performance measurement not only helps to build capacities generally (as mentioned above), but also specific capacities related to improving policy development. While such participatory methods offer important new mechanisms of improving policy development, standard hard commitments and laws still have a role to play in promoting the depoliticisation of the administration and in augmenting the professionalisation of its staff.
   
   
4. The fourth topic involved the development of e-government in the development of policy skills. Some ways which electronic government could bolster policy skills needed to reduce corruption are through the creation of websites for “e-networking”, case databases (for public services with cases which can get “misplaced”), increasing use of electronic applications and forms, distance learning in anti-corruption, and electronically mediated exchange. Information technologies also have a role to play in developing computer literacy, strategic planning, and language skills required for the broadly based fight against corruption. Distance training related to NISPAcee conference resources could help to develop important “capacities to govern”. Information technologies could also be used in the creation of internal administrative competitions which offer awards for public service delivery or innovative ideas.

The outcome of the WG is the publication "Anti-corruption training programmes in central and eastern Europe", edited by Bryane Michael, 2005

The publication represents the product of a number of discussions held by the WG on Preventing Corruption in PA, created within the NISPAcee with the support of the Council of Europe.