National public administrations in the EU are navigating one of the most demanding periods in recent history. Geopolitical uncertainty, rapid digital transitions, and growing citizen expectations are reshaping how public institutions must lead and deliver results for society.
Against this backdrop, the European Commission has launched the European Public Administration Leadership Programme (EU-PALP), an ambitious initiative funded through the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) designed for senior European public servants who are tasked with driving change in an increasingly complex administrative environment.
The Florence STG of the European University Institute has been entrusted with implementing this two-year programme in close cooperation with the Secretariat-General Reform and Investment Task Force (SG REFORM) and the National Schools of Public Administration of six beneficiary Member States participating in the programme: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Latvia, Poland, and Romania.
“Our objective is not only to strengthen individual leadership capacities but also to foster a shared European administrative culture grounded in strategic thinking, collaboration, and delivering public value” underlines Director of STG Executive Education Kristin Fabbe.
A key component of EU-PALP will be a one-year leadership development programme - the L.E.A.D.E.R. training programme - open to 48 senior civil servants from the six Member States.
At the heart of EU-PALP, in fact, lies its first major deliverable: the L.E.A.D.E.R. Competency Framework, which introduces six interconnected clusters of leadership designed to help public officials navigate complex governance environments (Learner, Empowering, Authentic, Driver, Ethical, and Results oriented). Developed over five months by the STG Executive Education team together with a multidisciplinary task force and supported by contributions from the European Commission, Member States, and experts across sectors, the framework offers a new common reference for senior public leadership in Europe. "Recognising the diversity of national administrative contexts," said Heidi Maurer, Academic Lead of EU-PALP, “the framework is designed as a compass, guiding public officials in their reflection and peer exchange rather than prescribing a fixed route. It supports each participant in identifying and prioritising the leadership competencies most relevant to their own context, reform agenda, and the complexity they navigate every day.”
The development of the L.E.A.D.E.R. training programme builds on an extensive training needs assessment conducted among civil servants of EU countries. In just more than two weeks, over 500 responses were collected across the six Member States, providing valuable insights into the practical challenges faced by senior public leaders on the ground. These findings provide a strong evidence base for both the design of the learning programme and the development of the European Leadership Competency Framework.
Building on the needs assessment and the competency framework, the STG Executive Education team is now developing the learning path for the programme participants.
Over the 12 months, 48 senior civil servants together with 12 accompanying staff members from the national Schools of Public Administration, will take part in a unique leadership development journey combining residential labs across seven Member States, peer exchange with colleagues from other administrations, and practical exercises on real-world leadership challenges. Activities will be organised in partnership with national schools of public administration, ensuring that learning remains anchored in national contexts while fostering EU-wide cooperation.
The programme will open with the official opening session and first leadership lab in Warsaw from 16-18 June 2026, focusing on the theme of “leading under pressure”. Subsequent labs will address key leadership capabilities highlighted by the competency framework:
• September 2026 in Bucharest, Romania.
• November 2026 in Athens, Greece.
• January 2027 in Zagreb, Croatia.
• March 2027 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
• April 2027 in Riga, Latvia.
• June 2027 in Florence, Italy.
“Through this project”, concludes STG Director Johanna Mair, “we are advancing our core mission across six EU Member States: teaching and training leaders to tackle global challenges and deliver public value for European citizens.”
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