Department of Administrative Science Course
REFORMING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT
Lecturers: professor dr. Ivan Koprić (ikopric@pravo.hr), associate professor dr. Gordana
Marčetić (gmarceti@pravo.hr), assistant professor dr. Anamarija Musa (amusa@pravo.hr)
and dr. Vedran Đulabić, senior researcher (vdulabic@pravo.hr)
Basic information about the course: The course is comprised of lectures (30 hours in one
semester, both Winter and Summer semester) and individual work. It counts for 4 ECTS.
Examination includes oral examination (70% of final mark) and one essay (30%)
Short description: The course is intended to offer an extensive overview on current reforms of public
administration in Europe, with particular emphasis on the changing patterns of the administrative development
within (or due to) the EU membership.
In the first part of the course key processes are analysed: comparative reforms in European states, including
changes in the civil service; decentralisation process, enhanced by the subsidiarity principle; and the
developments relating to the quality and innovation in public administration, with special reference to
effectiveness and appropriate regulatory instruments.
In the second part the changing role of public administration within the EU is analysed, especially the efforts of
the EU to support candidate countries to reform their public administrations. New European policy and
regulation regarding the provision of civil services will be presented, as well as their institutional consequences
(regulatory agencies). Finally, the role of public administration in implementation and coordination of European
policies is analysed.
The third part offers an introduction and an overview of public administration and public sector reform in
Croatia, in terms of modernisation of central government and administration, and with regard to the
improvement of public services provision, both at the local level and at the state level, with special reference to
the better regulation agenda. Building on the previously taught units, students will be able to assess relative
success of Croatian reform process within the European and EU realm.
Aim and expected outcomes: This course is primarily developed for international students participating in the
Erasmus and other exchange programme. Nevertheless, Croatian students interested in public law topics,
especially public administration, administrative law and European governance, are strongly encouraged to enrol
in the course during their 4th or 5th year of study. Process approach offered in this course will help students to
develop their analytic skills, evaluate the issues presented in the course of time, and to polish their comparative
approach to public law / institutions problems.
The course will help students to develop broaden their understanding of the public law issues, particularly the
contemporary controversies of public administration. Secondly, the analysis of the impact of the EU on national
states will provide students with the knowledge on comparative public administration change. Students will be
introduced with public management concepts (performance management and contracts, quality assessments, etc.)
which are omnipresent in public sector, where great numbers of lawyers build their careers. Finally, international
students will develop their understanding of the Croatian state and local government system, while domestic
students will deepen their knowledge and, based on the course readings, will acquire a new view on domestic
problems. Additionally, students will be able to assess general transition countries’ problems in reforming
political institutions.
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