Are Civil Service Systems a Hurdle for the Modernisation of Public Administration?

Portorož, Slovenia, 28 May. International students and professors of EMUNI professional course on "Public Management and Sustainable development in the Mediterranean" developed an interesting debate, trying to answer the question whether the civil service systems are a hurdle for the modernisation of public administration.

Dr. Alain Tobelem, visiting professor at EMUNI from France, who is working as an International Consultant in State Reform and Public Sector Modernization, offered the »yes« arguments, while  Dr. Janez Stare, University in Ljubljana listed the reasons why this is not the case.

The round table participants agreed that there are plenty parallels among the public administration systems in the Mediterranean countries and that similar management techniques should apply to public administration as in the private sector.

Among the problems, which hinder the progress and efficiency of public servants, are unskilled workers in leading positions and excessive legal and social protection of civil servants, which form an obstacle for their effectivenes and initiatives. Dr. Tobelem also mentioned the problems of corruption, nepotism and stressed that the systems are crowded with more civil servanst than required, setting the example of France, where as many as one third of the employees in civil service are excessive.