The pool of lecturers included representatives of the government and non-government organisations and academics  from the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania and Spain, experts of the Council of Europe and the EU Committee of the Regions.

Presentations and discussions focused on the experience sharing between representatives of EU Member States and their colleagues from the Partner countries on decentralisation of state functions, supporting financial autonomy of local and regional governments, countering socioeconomic disparities in regional development, enhancing citizens’ participation at the local level, using the capacities of local and regional government associations and financing relevant reform activities from EU funds. The training followed up on five similar events organised by the Czech Republic in 2010-2013, attended by ca 90 experts from the Eastern Partnership countries.

The course was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, in cooperation with the European Commission and the European External Action Service in the framework of the Eastern Partnership Panel on Public Administration Reform.