The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) hosted the CAF National Correspondents Meeting at its headquarters in Maastricht this week, bringing together representatives from across Europe and beyond for discussions on quality management and public sector performance.
This edition stood out for its strong participation and forward-looking programme, developed by the European CAF Resource Centre in close collaboration with the network. Discussions reaffirmed the continued relevance of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF), which for over 25 years has supported improvements in public administration performance across Europe.
During the meeting, participants addressed key themes such as user-centricity, performance management, and the future of CAF. They explored recent developments at national level, including progress in EU Member States, the Western Balkans, and Eastern Partnership countries. Contributions also highlighted advanced practices in performance-oriented approaches and the role of research and innovation in strengthening CAF implementation.
Discussions with representatives from the European Commission and OECD/SIGMA highlighted recent Eurobarometer findings and reinforced a shared priority: reducing administrative burden and making public services simpler and more accessible for citizens and businesses.
We also looked ahead to the next phase of CAF development, with a shared focus on enhancing communication, strengthening cooperation, and building a more agile and impactful approach to quality management in the public sector.
The event once again provided a valuable platform for exchanging experiences, sharing best practices, and reinforcing collaboration among CAF National Correspondents and partner organisations.
What is CAF?
The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is the result of the cooperation among the EU ministers responsible for public administration. It provides a general, simple and easy-to-use framework, which is suitable for a self-assessment of public sector organisations and their development towards excellence: stronger citizens’ orientation, process, resource and performance management and empowerment of employees, whilst fostering a transparent and open organisational culture.
