EU Training Programme for Public Servants in Serbia and Montenegro

In the framework of a service contract (SR/TR/124/03) with the Department for European Integration of the Serbo-Montenegrin Ministry for External Economic relations, the College of Europe carried out a training programme aimed at preparing civil servants (of the federal government and of federated Serbian and Montenegrin ministries) for the negotiation and implementation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU. 

Participants

In total, there are about 220 trainees participating in the EU training programme, divided into 5 different groups.

Programme

Each of the groups followed a different curriculum, tailored to their specific needs. The main elements included in the programme were negotiating skills and techniques, understanding of EU Affairs in general, specific EU policies, and legal approximation. 

There were 5 half-day sessions per week (one for each group) during the period of November 2003 to April 2004. The sessions were delivered by some 35 experts from the College network. At the end of the EU training, a specific “Train the Trainers” course took place, which prepared local trainers to set up and carry out EU training autonomously. 

Additionally, a specific module for Montenegrin civil servants was added to the projected programme in May 2004. This one-week seminar covered a range of EU-related subjects: EU historical milestones, institutions and decision-making, Internal Market, Trade and Agricultural policies and EU negotiations.

Facilities 

The project was managed in close cooperation between the College of Europe and the Contracting Authority, with training sessions taking place in both Belgrade (Serbia) and Podgorica (Montenegro).