PACE: Public Administration Cooperation Exchange

Public administrations within the European Union are facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the acceleration of globalisation at the international level and its many long-term implications.

EU Member States must not only adapt their administrations to new digital and environmental requirements, but also ensure their capacity to effectively implement the full range of existing European regulations.

In light of these emerging global challenges, it has become necessary to strengthen cross-country cooperation within the EU. National administrations play a central role in this process by facilitating collaboration and the joint development of tailored solutions in the areas of governance and transparency; digital transformation of public administration; health and medical data; and transport and air navigation.

The European Commission has launched the Public Administration Cooperation Exchange (PACE), which aimed at:

• strengthening cross-country collaboration;
• improving mutual understanding;
• increasing the administrative capacities of Member States to implement EU law, by promoting the sharing of best practices tailored to the specific needs and institutional capacities of each State;
• fostering a genuine European dimension in public policy development and decision-making processes.

The PACE flagship initiative, constitutes a key action of the Commission’s Communication on Strengthening the European Administrative Space (ComPAct), under its Pillar 1: Skills Agenda for Public Administrations.

It is funded by the European Union via the Technical Support Instrument, and implemented by Expertise France, in cooperation with the European Commission.

As the implementing agency, Expertise France will be responsible for supporting the design, management, and execution of these cross-country exchanges, thereby contributing to the strengthening of administrative capacities across the European Union.

Expertise France leverages its expertise to support European administrations in the design, implementation, and monitoring & evaluation of their best-practice exchanges.

Thanks to our experience in organising international technical cooperation, we also provide key methodological support to enhance the impact of each study visit. This includes the development of tailored tools (follow-up questionnaires, final report templates, expert databases) aimed at capitalising on lessons learned, structuring feedback, and fostering a sustainable learning dynamic within the European Union.

By putting our know-how at the service of public administrations, we aim to contribute to building an environment conducive to knowledge sharing, administrative innovation, and the strengthening of capacities required to collectively address European challenges.