Main Conference Theme
Chairs:
Ivan Kopric, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
E-mail: ikopric@pravo.hr
Polona Kovac, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
European
Administrative Space (EAS) has recently become the dominant concept in administrative
theory and doctrine for analysis of the phenomenon of administrative
convergence in Europe. The EAS was created and is driven by various European
players, facilitated by civil servants’ learning, and fuelled by the
expectations of European citizens. The EAS is based on and comprises a set of
values, social and citizen expectations, governance principles and standards of
public administration organisation and functioning defined by law, whose
application is supported by the appropriate procedures and accountability
mechanisms. It subsumes both good administration and good governance as
narrower concepts with somewhat different focuses. European standards and best
practices have spread and influence capacity building processes at all
governance levels throughout Europe and the neighbouring areas.
We
would like to encourage you to submit papers and presentations dealing with the
issues related to European Administrative Space, particularly bearing in mind
its importance for CEE countries.
Here are
several themes, research questions, issues and subjects:
*What is the doctrinal
and theoretical content of European good governance?
*How can the transparency
and open government concept contribute to better administrative capacities?
*Which mechanisms
and methods of policy diffusion are in-built into EAS?
*What are the methods,
drivers, and impacts of spreading European administrative standards?
*Which policies,
rights and standards are being distributed within the EAS and how do these
processes influence administrative capacities at the various levels (national,
regional, local, and supranational)?
*What are the
fields of harmonisation and administrative convergence in Europe?
*What are the
components and meanings of administrative capacities? How do these components
depend on various EAS elements? To what extent is the EAS responsible for the improvement
of administrative capacities in different administrative milieus?
*Is it possible
to achieve an equal level and quality of public
services for all European citizens and other people in each and every part of
Europe based on the harmonisation of administrative standards?
*What
is the future of European public and administrative law and how can its
development influence public administrations, citizens and the business sector?
*How is the right to good
administration understood? What are the challenges of its implementation?
*To
what extent can development of the EAS harmonise traditional public
administration models in Europe?
*How
can we improve public sector management by spreading EAS standards and building
capacities?
*How
can we theorise and research EAS? Is it a theoretical or normative and
doctrinal concept? What is the European integrated administration and what does
it mean for national public administrations?
*How is
the neo-Weberian administration model understood versus the traditional public
administration under EAS?
*What
are the challenges for public administration schools with EAS standards?
We believe that
this conference main theme can bring together renowned scholars, researchers, experts
and professionals, students and other participants from the NISPAcee region and
all over the world. The conference can deepen our understanding of the importance,
driving forces and factors, as well as the consequences and impacts of the EAS
that emerge throughout Europe and in the neighbouring areas. At the same time,
it can contribute to our knowledge about administrative capacities at all
governance levels throughout Europe and the region, and the concrete ways to boost
them in the countries of the NISPAcee region.