Implementation of the project

“Improvement of qualifications of Lithuanian civil servants

representing Lithuania’s interests in the EU”

Renata PakalnytėProject Coordinator, ESTEP

Consortium of ESTEP and IIRPS

ESTEP – one of the leading consulting companies in Lithuania, actively working since 2004 when Lithuania joined the EU.

ESTEP provides the following services to public authorities:• evaluation of EU support programmes• governance improvement• public policy analysis• administrative capacity building • advice on EU and European integration issues

The Civil Service Department included ESTEP in the list of legal entities qualified to provide training services to civil servants

Consortium of ESTEP and IIRPS

VU IIRPS – one of the most prominent institutions of social sciences in Central Eastern Europe and the Baltic region

• Teaching – specialising in social and political sciences; three-level studies: BA, MA and PhD studies• Research – leading social science research centre in

the Baltic States• Consulting – expertise on national, European and

international politics

Since 2003, IIRPS has been providing qualification improvement services to civil servants

Purpose of the project

The project aims to improve knowledge of Lithuanian civil servants representing

Lithuania's interests on the EU, develop capacities related to the proper representation

of Lithuania's interests in the EU

Target groups of the project

• TG 2.1 – future chairpersons of the EU Council working groups, deputies thereof, heads of EU coordination units

• TG 2.2 – other representatives participating in the activities of EU institutions

• TG 2.3 – persons participating in the drafting of positions of the Republic of Lithuania (as well as those employed in EU coordination units)

Scope of the project

• Impact Assessment of EU Legislation, TG 2.1 (in EN) • Impact Assessment of EU Legislation, TG 2.2 (in LT) • Lithuania's European Policy Development Process and

Lithuania's European Policy Priorities, TG 2.1 • Lithuania's European Policy Development Process and

Lithuania's European Policy Priorities, TG 2.2• EU Decision-Making, Policy, Impact Assessment of EU

Legislation and Negotiations, TG 2.3

In total, 117 training sessions will be organised / 193 training days delivered / 1,200 civil servants trained during the 16-month project

Groups that had training:

• Impact Assessment of EU Legislation TG 2.1 (in EN):4 of 10

• Impact Assessment of EU Legislation TG 2.2 (in LT):27 of 27

• Lithuania's European Policy Development Process and Lithuania's European Policy Priorities TG 2.1:

17 of 20• Lithuania's European Policy Development Process and

Lithuania's European Policy Priorities TG 2.2:25 of 27

• EU Decision-Making, Policy, Impact Assessment of EU Legislation and Negotiations TG 2.3:

24 of 33

Participants who had training:

Impact Assessment of EU Legislation (in Lithuanian), TG 2.2.

Impact Assessment of EU Legislation, (in English), TG 2.1.

Participants who underwent training:

Lithuania's European Policy Development Process and Lithuania's European Policy Priorities, TG 2.1.

Lithuania's European Policy Development Process and Lithuania's European Policy Priorities, TG 2.2.

Participants who underwent training:

EU Decision-Making, Policy, Impact Assessment of EU Legislation and Negotiations, TG 2.3.

Quality assurance and quality control

Based on the following criteria:• Course evaluation questionnaires• Knowledge tests prior and after the

training session• Feedback from participants (and

lecturers)

Overall evaluation of the training

Participants’ opinion: answers to the question if the course was well conceived

Lithuania's European Policy Development Process and Lithuania's European Policy Priorities, TG 2.1:

assessment of the overall perceived quality of training sessions

Lithuania's European Policy Development Process and Lithuania's European Policy Priorities, TG 2.2:

assessment of the overall perceived quality of training sessions

Impact Assessment of EU legislation, TG 2.2. (in LT): assessment of the overall perceived quality of training

sessions

Impact Assessment of EU legislation, TG 2.1. (in EN): assessment of the overall perceived quality of training

sessions

Feedback from the participants:

• More practical information/too much of general information

• Too much information and cases about Ireland and not enough about Lithuania and the EU

• Not enough information on the Presidency of the Council

• Groups could be smaller • Lecturer speaks very fast

EU Decision-Making, Policy, Impact Assessment of EU Legislation and Negotiations, TG 2.3: assessment of

the overall perceived quality of training sessions

Average number of mistakes made prior and after the training sessions

Current challenges

• Project “Training services in Lithuanian and English for the Improvement of Qualifications Required by Lithuanian Civil Servants and Politicians for Representation in the EU and EU Presidency”

• Consortium: ENA-ESTEP-VU IIRPS• Training on:Decision making in the EU - TG1, TG2.1 and TG2.2Legal and Institutional System of the EU - TG2.1 and TG2.2Sectoral Policies in the EU - TG2.1 and TG2.2Negotiations and Intercultural communication in the EU - TG2.1 and

TG2.2

• 184 training sessions / 399 training days to be delivered / 765 civil servants to be trained in January–August 2012

Positive impact

• What will Lithuania get from the EU Presidency?

• One of the most positive impact of the Lithuanian EU Presidency is strengthened civil service in Lithuania, namely the improved qualification of Lithuanian civil servants

• However, the continuity will be important - the same people working on the Presidency issues maintained after the elections; the same EU affairs coordination system maintained.

Thank you!

www.estep.lt www.tspmi.lt