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COST-CRIPO meetings: 4th meeting of the MC and high level seminar for invited researcher and practitioners
High-level Seminar for Invited Researchers and Practitioners
“Autonomy and control of public agencies at national and EU-level”
21 April 2009 – Brussels (Belgium)
for cost-cripo partners and invited researchers and practitioners |
Objectives of the high level seminar
Specialization within large bureaucracies results in the large-scale establishment of “public agencies”, with considerable autonomy, urging for new ways of contract-based result control and a more intense coordination within and across policy sectors. Although governments are adapting to these trends at an increasing pace, there remains lack of scientific proof of the beneficial effects of these trends for the performance of the public sector.
In the COST-CRIPO Action (2007-2011) 35 high-quality European public management research teams from 22 countries are joining their forces in an common research strategy on public sector organisation. Central research focus is the changing autonomy, control and coordination of public agencies, as well as the explanations and consequences of this trend. Central is the question to what extent increasing autonomy, more result-oriented control and more whole-of-government coordination of public agencies leads to more organisational performance.
One of the main pillars of the CRIPO network is the COBRA-group which started its activities in 2002. The COBRA group gathers and analyses similar survey data on agency autonomy and control in a high number of participating countries which allows to compare agency types and features operating in different politico-administrative cultures. The COBRA data encompasses at the end of 2008 data on agencies in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Lithuania, and two non-European countries like Australia, Hong Kong. Similar surveys will be conducted in Switzerland, Austria, Estonia, Portugal and Finland.
During this one-day High Level Seminar, the CRIPO-network invites high-level practitioners from countries, involved in the CRIPO research, and from the EU-level to discuss the current research findings of agency-research, as well as their implications for the practice of agency creation and agency management. Moreover, by this interaction the network aims at furthering mutual learning by discussing the current challenges for practitioners in agencification policy and a close alignment of the CRIPO research plans to practitioners’ needs. Finally, by inviting other researchers, working on agencies, we hope to build more strong bridges across research communities.
Objectives are:
- To present to and discuss the current findings of the research on autonomy, control and coordination of public agencies, both at national level and at EU-level.
- What is to be learned from past and current public sector research on autonomy, control and coordination of public agencies for the practice of agencification?
- To what extent are these findings in line with practitioners’ experiences in the different countries?
- How can we structure, control and co-ordinated public sector organisations in an optimal way in order to enhance performance and accountability?
- To discuss remaining research issues and the alignment of future research plans of the CRIPO network on autonomy, control and coordination of public agencies, both at national level and at EU-level.
- What crucial issues still needs to be tackled in research and in practice?
- How can the ongoing CRIPO- research and other public sector organisation research support practitioners?
- To stimulate a long term interaction between CRIPO-researchers on the one hand and national and EU-practitioners on the other hand in order to optimize mutual learning and the valorisation of CRIPO in policy-relevant recommendations
- To foster the exchange of research methodologies and strategies with high level researchers outside the CRIPO network, who are involved in agency-related research.
Program of the High Level Seminar
Monday 20 April
| Monday evening |
Arrival of invited researchers and practitioners in Brussels |
| After 20.30 |
Dinner for Cost members and for invited researchers and practitioners |
Tuesday 21 April
9.30-10.15 |
Opening ‘State of the Art’ Workshop for researchers and practitioners ‘Autonomy, control and coordination of public sector organisations’ (Geert Bouckaert Chair of the Cost CRIPO Action) (Ockeghem room) (pdf)
- With COST-affiliated research teams
- With invited high-quality researchers outside COST
- With invited high-level practitioners from European countries and from the EU
|
| 10.15-10.30 |
Coffee Break |
| 10.30-12.15 |
Introduction to CRIPO-related research in different countries
First set of two parallel sessions with researchers and practitioners with three presentors giving their findings and vision on the issue under discussion (15 min.) followed by a discussion panel
- Expert session I: Managerial autonomy of agencies: (Stevin room)
- Presentation: Managerial autonomy of agencies in different countries (comparison, explaining factors, impact on management techniques and challenges)
- Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel: Belgium, Austria, Italy, OECD
- Expert session II: Policy autonomy and involvement of agencies in policy making (Ockeghem room)
- Presentation: Policy autonomy and involvement of agencies and autonomous public bodies in policy making in European countries: findings, responses and challenges
- Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel: The Netherlands, Norway, Ireland
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12.15- 13.30 |
Lunch |
13.30-15.15 |
Second set of two parallel sessions with researchers and practitioners with three discussants (researchers and practitioners) giving their findings and vision on the issue under discussion (15 min.) followed by a general discussion
- Expert Session III: Control and accountability of agencies and autonomous public bodies by government and parliament: instruments and problems Ockeghem room)
- Control of agencies by ministers and parent departments compared
- Accountability and control arrangements for autonomized bodies: a country study
- Balancing trust and control
- Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel: Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands
- Expert session IV: Agencies in East-and central European states (Stevin Room)
- Introduction
- Autonomy and control of public bodies in Lithuania
- Growth and change in public bodies in Hungaria
- Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel: practitioners and researchers from Estonia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania
|
15.15-15.30 |
Coffee Break |
15.30-17.30 |
Plenary expert session V: Agencification at the EU-level: particularities and challenges (Ockeghem room)
- EU-agencies: issues of control by Martijn Groenleer (under reservation)
- Evaluation of EU-agencies by Jacques Toulemonde (under reservation)
- Autonomy and control of EU-agencies: what are differences with national agencies? by Eduardo Ongaro and Dario Barbieri
- Discussion with EU practitioners’ and researchers’ panel
|
17.30 |
End of the state-of the art conference
Reception |
Detailed program per expert session
Expert session I: Managerial autonomy of agencies
Objectives of this expert session are:
- To present to and discuss the current findings of the research on managerial autonomy, public agencies at national level in European countries.
- What are important findings concerning the managerial autonomy of public agencies from past and current COST related research for the practice of agencification?
- To what extent are these findings in line with practitioners’ experiences in the different countries?
- How can we structure the managerial autonomy of public sector organisations in an optimal way in order to enhance performance?
- What crucial issues concerning managerial autonomy of agencies still needs to be tackled in research and in practice?
Coordination of this expert session is done by dr. Gerhard Hammerschmidt (Hertie School) and Koen Verhoest.
Duration of this expert session: 10.30-12.15 – 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes)
Place: Stevin Room
The structure of the expert session is as follows:
- Presentation of COST/COBRA related research on managerial autonomy of agencies in different countries – comparing the level of managerial autonomy in terms of HRM and financial autonomy in different politico-administrative cultures (20 min.)
Presentor: dr. Muiris Mac Carthaigh (IPA) (pdf)
- Explaining managerial autonomy of agencies in different states - Findings of COST/COBRA related research (20 min.)
Presentor: dr. Koen Verhoest (KULeuven) (pdf)
- Reactions from and discussion with the Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel (Belgium, Austria, Italy)
- with short reaction from practitioners on both presentations and
- reflection on the practice in their own country
- reflection on the challenges they face in their country and possible solutions
Organisation:
- Practitioners will be sent both the presentations by Koen Verhoest two weeks before the seminar so that they can prepare their intervention
- Each practitioner in the panel will have 10 minutes for his reflection, followed by a more open discussion with the panel and with the public
Participants:
- Belgium: Dany Dewulf (vice-president MOVI) and Mark Vandersmissen (IAVA)
- Austria: Gerhard Hammerschmidt
- Italy: Prof. dr. Eduardo Ongaro and Prof. dr. Dario Barbieri
Panel chair: Gerhard Hammerschmidt
Expert session II: Policy autonomy and involvement of agencies in policy making
Objectives of this expert session are:
- To present to and discuss the current findings of the research on policy autonomy and involvement of public agencies at national level in European countries.
- What are important findings concerning the policy autonomy and involvement of public agencies from past and current COST related research for the practice of agencification?
- To what extent are these findings in line with practitioners’ experiences in the different countries?
- How can we structure the policy autonomy/involvement of public sector organisations in an optimal way in order to enhance performance?
- What crucial issues concerning policy autonomy of agencies still needs to be tackled in research and in practice?
Coordination of this expert session is done by Prof. dr. Salvador Parrado (Spain), which also will be panel chair
Duration of this expert session: 10.30-12.15 – 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes)
Place: Rubens Auditorium
The structure of the expert session is as follows:
- Presentation of COST/COBRA related research on policy autonomy of agencies and the involvement of agencies in policy making in Germany, with reference to other countries of different administrative cultures (15 min.)
“To what extent do public agencies have policy autonomy and are they involved in policy making in an Continental Rechtstaat with limited NPM reforms”?
Presentor: Prof. dr. Werner Jann or dr. Julia Fleisher (Potsdam University)– Tobias Bach will prepare the presentation (pdf)
- Presentation of COST/COBRA related research on policy autonomy of agencies and the involvement of agencies in policy making in Sweden (15 min.)
“To what extent do public agencies have policy autonomy and are they involved in policy making in Sweden, where the autonomy of agencies is constitutionally enshrined and where parent departments are very small”?
Presentor: dr. Birgitta Niklasson (Gothenburg University) (presentation (pdf) - paper (pdf))
- presentation of COST/COBRA related research explaining policy autonomy of Flemish agencies, based on the Ph.d. of dr. Bram Verschuere (15 minutes)
“A dynamic view on policy influence of agencies and autonomous public bodies: explaining factors “
Presentor: drs. Jan Rommel (KULeuven) (presentation (pdf) - paper (pdf))
- Reactions from and discussion with the Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel (The Netherlands, Norway, Ireland)
- with short reaction from practitioners on both presentations and
- reflection on the practice in their own country concerning policy autonomy and involvement of agencies
- reflection on the challenges they face in their country and possible responses
Organisation:
- Practitioners will be sent both the presentations by the coordinator (i.e. Salvador Parrado) two weeks before the seminar so that they can prepare their intervention
- Each practitioner in the panel will have 10 minutes for his reflection, followed by a more open discussion with the panel and with the public
Participants:
- Ireland: Mr. Moling Ryan - chief executive of the Legal Aid Board, chair of the Association of Chief Executives of State Agencies (ACESA) in Ireland.
- The Netherlands:
- Ms. Jacqueline Conemans, Ministry of Interiors
- Ms. Diny van Est, representative of the Court of Audit
- Prof.dr. Annetje Ottow, Independent Regulator for Post and Telecommunication
- Norway: Mr. Inger Johanne Sundby (pdf)
Panel chair: Salvador Parrado
Expert session III: Control and accountability of agencies and autonomous public bodies by government and parliament (video - DSS file)
Objectives of this expert session are:
- To present to and discuss the current findings of the research on control and accountability of public agencies at national level in European countries.
- What are important findings concerning the control and accountability of public agencies from past and current COST related and other research for the practice of agencification?
- To what extent are these findings in line with practitioners’ experiences in the different countries?
- How can we structure the control and accountability of public sector organisations in an optimal way in order to enhance performance?
- What crucial issues concerning control and accountability of agencies still needs to be tackled in research and in practice?
Coordination of this expert session is done by Prof. dr. Kutsal Yesilkagit (Utrecht University), who also will be panel chair
Duration of this expert session: 13.30-15.15 – 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes)
Place: Rubens Auditorium
The structure of the expert session is as follows:
- Control of agencies by ministers and parent departments compared
- Accountability and control arrangements for autonomized bodies: a country study
- Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel: Sweden, Germany, Switzerland
- Presentation of COST/COBRA related research on “Control of agencies by ministers and parent departments in Norway, with reference to other countries of different administrative cultures” (20 min.)
Presentor: Paul G. Roness (Bergen University) (pdf)
- Presentation by Dutch Court of Audit on accountability and control arrangements of Dutch public law agencies and private law agencies (RWTs) (20 min.)
Presentor: Prof. dr. Cor van Montfort (Court of Audit/ Tilburg University) or Ms. Diny Van Est (Court of Audit) (pdf)
- Presentation on relevance of trust and control between agencies and parent departments (15 min.)
Presentor: Prof. dr. Sandra van Thiel (Erasmus University) “how to strike a balance between control and trust” (pdf)
- Reactions from and discussion with the Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel (Sweden, Germany, Switzerland)
- with short reaction from practitioners on the presentations and
- reflection on the practice in their own country concerning policy autonomy and involvement of agencies
- reflection on the challenges they face in their country and possible responses
Participants
- Sweden: Mr. Jan-Eric Furubo, Riksrevisionen
- Switzerland: Mr. Martin Heimgartner
- The Netherlands: Kaspar van den Ham, Informatie Beheer Groep
(IB-groep) & Handvestgroep
Organisation:
- Practitioners will be sent both the presentations by the coordinator two weeks before the seminar so that they can prepare their intervention
- Each practitioner in the panel will have 10 minutes for his reflection, followed by a more open discussion with the panel and with the public
Panel chair: Prof. dr. Kutsal Yesilkagit (Utrecht University)
Expert session IV: Agencies in East and Central European states (video - Windows Media Audio file)
Objectives of this expert session are:
- To present to and discuss the current findings of the research on proliferation, autonomy and control public agencies at national level in East- and Central-European states.
- What are important findings from past and current COST related research for the practice of agencification?
- What are the particularities of agencies in East- and Central European states (particularities in terms of proliferation of agencies, limited state capacity to control agencies…)
- To what extent are these findings in line with practitioners’ experiences in these countries?
How can we optimise the creation, autonomy and control of agencies in East- and Central European states
- What crucial issues concerning agencies in East- and Central European states still needs to be tackled in research and in practice?
Coordination of this expert session is done by Prof. dr. Tiina Randma (Talinn University - Estonia)
Duration of this expert session: 13.30-15.15 – 1 hour 45 minutes (105 minutes)
Place: Stevin Room
The structure of the expert session is as follows:
- Introduction by Prof.dr. Tiina Randma on the particularities of agencies in East- and Central European states (15 min)
- Presentation of COST/COBRA related research on growth and change of public bodies in Hungary By dr. Gyorgy Hajnal (15 min.) (presentation (pdf) - paper (pdf))
- Findings of COST/COBRA related research on Autonomy and control of public bodies in Lithuania by Prof. dr. Vitalis Nakrosis (15 min.)
(presentation (pdf) - paper (pdf))
- Divergence between formal and actual management autonomy – alignment of different kinds of autonomy
- Reactions from and discussion with the Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel (Estonia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania)
- with short reaction from practitioners on both presentations and
- reflection on the practice in their own country
- reflection on the challenges they face in their country and possible solutions
Participants
- Estonia: Mr. Margus Sarapuu (Secretary General of the Estonian Ministry of Justice)
- Czech Republic: Prof. Dr. Jan Pavel
- Slovakia: Prof. dr. Miroslav Beblavý (Slovak Governance Institute)
- Romania: Prof.dr. Calin Hintea
Organisation:
- Practitioners will be sent both the presentations by the coordinator (i.e. Tiina Randma) two weeks before the seminar so that they can prepare their intervention
- Each practitioner in the panel will have 10 minutes for his reflection, followed by a more open discussion with the panel and with the public
Plenary expert session V: Agencification at the EU-level: particularities and challenges (video - Windows Media Audio file)
Objectives of this expert session are:
- To present to and discuss the current findings of the research on proliferation, autonomy and control public agencies at EU-level.
- What are important findings from past and current COST related research and other research for the practice of agencification at EU level?
- What are the particularities of agencies at EU-level (particularly in terms of relations with Commission and with member states, supranational or intergovernmental control, management autonomy and policy autonomy in a multi-level governance setting…)
- Evaluation of EU-agencies in terms of control and performance
- To what extent are these findings in line with practitioners’ experiences at EU-level?
- How can we optimise the creation, autonomy and control of agencies at EU level?
- What crucial issues concerning agencies at EU-level still needs to be tackled in research and in practice?
Coordination of this expert session is done by Prof. dr. Eduardo Ongaro (Bocconi University - Milan)
Duration of this expert session: 15.30-17.30 – 2 hours (120 minutes)
Place: Rubens Auditorium
The structure of the expert session is as follows:
- Introduction to the expert session by Prof.dr. Eduardo Ongaro and Prof.dr. Dario Barbieri (Bocconi University)
- “Issues of autonomy of EU-agencies” by Prof.dr. Martijn Groenleer (Delft University) (20 minutes) (pdf)
- “Evaluation of EU-agencies” by Prof.dr. Jacques Toulemonde (Euréval) (20 minutes) (pdf)
- Presentation of COST/COBRA related research: “Autonomy and control of EU-agencies: what are differences with national agencies?” and presentation of EU agencies' survey and case protocol (15/20 minutes).by Prof.dr. Eduardo Ongaro and Prof.dr. Dario Barbieri (Bocconi University) (presentation (pdf) - paper (pdf))
- Reactions from and discussion with the Practitioners’ and researchers’ panel (EU Commission, EU-agencies)
- with short reaction from practitioners on both presentations and
- reflection on the practice in their own organisation
- reflection on the challenges they face and possible solutions
Participants
- Mr. Mcaleavey (Acting Head of Communications at the European Environment Agency)
- Mr. Andreas Pott (Head of Administration at the European Medicines Agency (EMEA)
- Mr Dante Storti from the EMCDDA – Agency member of the trojika of the EU agencies
- Alia Atitar De La Fuente from Evaluation Unit European Commission
- Mr. Xavier Matheu, Head of ETF Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit
- Marleen Voordeckers, ETF Liaison officer in Brussels
Organisation:
- Practitioners will be sent both the presentations by the coordinator (i.e. Eduardo Ongaro) two weeks before the seminar so that they can prepare their intervention
- Each practitioner in the panel will have 10 minutes for his reflection, followed by a more open discussion with the panel and with the public
Venue: Paleis der Academiën - Hertogsstraat 1 - B-1000 Brussel (pdf)
Participants are requested to book their own flights and accommodation!! (Cost reimbursement rules)
Possible accommodation:
- Hotel Du Congres - rue du congres 42 - 1000 Brussel (www.hotel-ducongres.com)
- Aristote Hotel - Avenue de stalingrad 7 - 1000 Brussel (http://aristote-hotel-brussels.h-rez.com)
- Bedford Hotel - Rue du Midi 135 - 1000 Brussel (www.hotelbedford.be)
- Hotel Albert - Rue Royale St. Marie 27 - 1030 Brussel (www.hotelalbert.be)
Or other hotel: booking.com / hotel.com (normal price)
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