PROJECT OF STATE ADMINISTRATION REFORM PRESENTED

ZAGREB, March 18 (Hina) - A project of reform of the state administration as part of the CARDS programme, entitled "Support to Reform of Civilian Services" (in an unofficial translation) was presented in Zagreb on Tuesday. The chief of the European Commission Delegation in Croatia, Jacques Wunenburger, Croatian Vice-Premier Goran Granic and Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic spoke about the project. #L# The reform of the administration is the foundation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, since the administrative capacity of the Croatian state administration should be sufficient to develop and implement the new laws relating to the legislature and policy of the EU, said Wunenburger. He added that the project would be realised as part of the CARDS programme, EU's technical and financial assistance to countries of the south-east of Europe which are participating in the stabilisation and association process, for which the EU set aside EUR23 million for 2001-2004. Granic said the expert support of the CARDS programme would be of precious help to Croatia. Anticevic spoke about the measures Croatia had undertaken in the reform process, especially with an accent on two most important problem groups: modernising the service system and a more efficient organisation of bodies of state administration. "A good civil servant is a mirror of every country," she said. The implementation of the project began in late November and is expected to last for 21 months. A consortium of companies with the British Council at the helm is implementing a project focusing on three chief aspects: the modernisation of the legislature and civil service practice, institutional and organisational strengthening of the justice ministry and personnel departments to improve and draw personnel management within the state administration, as well as the development of training programmes for various categories of public services' employees. (hina) lml sb