Educational Project for Cyprus Presidency

The joint project between EKDDA and the Cypriot Academy of Public Administration for the preparation of Cyprus's first EU Council Presidency in July 2012 is progressing with a satisfactory rhythm and within the scheduled timeframe. Under this agreement, EKDDA has elaborated an operational plan that includes actions of Ministers', General Directors' and PA Functionaries' briefing, as well as a specialized HR training with workshops on negotiation and effective communication techniques. Moreover, the operational plan includes a personalized training of the national representatives with negotiations simulation exercises conducted by a working group of the EU Council, a roadmap of steps and actions, as well as specialized seminars for the executives who will preside in the working groups of the Council, for the Presidency's supporting groups, for the Press and Publicity officers etc.

As a first phase, 16 "ministerial workshops" were organized with the participation of all the administrative staff involved, regardless of hierarchy, where organizational issues on the European policy configuration and implementation emerged, as well as issues concerning the effective operation of the managing body enacted by the Cypriot Government for the development of its European policy on a ministerial and interministerial level. These seminars also functioned as workshops for the detecting of the additional educational needs that will be faced in a future phase. The decision making procedures (Lisbon Treaty) and the emergence of the role of the public administration in the framework of the EU political proceedings were specified, among other subjects, within the modules discussed.

The speakers were high rank executives of the Greek Administration as well as EU executives that work for the Commission and the EU Council. More specifically, the program's aim was to contribute to the development of the team spirit and of the joint approach by all parties involved so as for the necessary competencies and skills (individual and collective) to be improved towards the effective management of the EU political proceedings (formation of national positions, motivation of the civil society, representation and negotiation). Moreover, the program's aim was to ensure the precise and timely incorporation of the EU Law (acquis communautaire) and to achieve the effective implementation of the EU policies and, consequently, to maximize the "communitarian performance" of the Cypriot Public Service. In addition, through the workshops, the need for skills such as negotiation, networking, public presentations, writing communication (terminology and protocol), documents preparation, conflict and crisis management, the development of team spirit, stress management etc was better detected. In a second phase the training of the National Representatives will begin with the methodology of the negotiation's simulation in a Working Group of the Council, in subjects regarding the wider legislative, political and administrative working environment of these people.