On 9 October representatives from across Europe came together for the CAF National Correspondents (NC) Meeting in Budapest, reinforcing the Common Assessment Framework’s (CAF) role as a vital tool for quality management and cooperation within EU Member States and candidate countries.
Hosted by Hungary’s Ministry of Public Administration, the meeting focused on the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) and its evolving impact on public administration.
The event opened with Zsolt Demeczky from the Government Office of the Capital City Budapest sharing Hungary’s approach to public sector quality. His insights set the stage for a broader conversation about the evolution of quality frameworks in the public sector, particularly focusing on the CAF. This discussion highlighted key trends and upcoming priorities in improving organisational excellence.
Below you will find the biggest developments to look out for on the topic of CAF, as discussed during the event:
Updates on CAF Initiatives Across Europe
- Bosnia and Herzegovina’s CAF National Correspondent, Kenan Avdagić, highlighted new CAF actions being adopted locally across Europe. In the discussion that followed, Tihana Puzic, Deputy Head of the European CAF Resource Centre at EIPA, and Nick Thijs, Senior Policy Advisor at the OECD, underscored the importance of transparent communication to strengthen the CAF network and promote national initiatives.
- Launching the “CAF in Education” Model – A key milestone of the meeting was the introduction of the “CAF in Education” model by Portugal’s National Correspondent, Margarida Quintela Martins. This initiative applies CAF principles to the education sector, opening new opportunities to enhance quality management in educational institutions. National Correspondents agreed to promote this model, recognising its potential for significant impact.
- Progress on CAF Excellence Recognition (CER) and PEF Update – Another focal point was the CAF Excellence Recognition (CER), presented by Tihana Puzic and Philip Parzer, Head of the CAF Centre at the KDZ. CER introduces a standardised recognition for outstanding CAF practices and aims to encourage a unified training approach. With positive feedback from participants, including Bulgaria’s NC Correspondent, Mimi Georgieva Yotova, CER promises to further validate and increase CAF’s reach.
- The “Golden 18” – The CAF Users Event, scheduled for April 2025 under the Polish presidency, was previewed by Marta Kuzawińska and Katarzyna Dudzik. This event will honour exceptional CAF applications through the “Golden 18” cases, creating a platform for best practice exchange and knowledge sharing.
Shaping CAF’s Strategic Priorities for the Next Two Years
The meeting concluded with discussions on a two-year strategic plan to advance CAF’s influence. Priorities include the rollout of the CAF in Education model, the CAF Excellence Recognition (CER), and the simplified CAF Quick Scan tool to foster wider adoption. This unified strategy, focusing on visibility and support, aims to solidify CAF as a cornerstone for quality improvement and innovation in European public sector administration.
