The meeting of CAF National Correspondents took place on 1 October 2025. The event, which is traditionally organised twice a year in the country holding the EU Council Presidency, was hosted by Denmark this time. Half of the participants attended in person in Copenhagen, while the other half joined online. The hosts from Denmark opened the meeting alongside representatives from the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), who presented the main points of the meeting’s agenda.

Key Meeting Topics

Reflection on the 10th CAF User Meeting

A summary of the results of the 10th European CAF User Meeting was presented. Emphasis was placed on the attendance of more than 130 participants from across Europe, the significance of breakout sessions, and concrete examples of how discussions were translated into further activities – such as planning the European Quality Conference or preparing new training sessions in Brussels and Maastricht. The publication from this event is also available on our website.

Development in Individual Countries

Traditionally, updates related to the implementation of the CAF model in member and partner countries were presented. Noteworthy examples include pilot CAF implementations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the connection of expert knowledge in Austria within the CAF Practitioners Network, growing interest in the CAF model in Moldova, and systematic measurement of citizen satisfaction with public administration services in Slovenia (showing a high percentage of satisfaction). The mutual sharing of experiences encourages inspiration and the development of good practice.

Experience from Ukraine

The presentation by the Ukrainian CAF Centre was particularly inspiring. Ukraine showcased the digitisation of the self-assessment process, the translation of CAF model manuals, a conference in Kyiv supported by the OECD and EIPA, as well as innovative online tools utilising Artificial Intelligence (AI). They also plan a CAF chatbot for the future. More information about the Ukrainian CAF Centre can be found on their website.

News from the European CAF Centre

The discussion further focused on plans to create a central European knowledge-sharing platform regarding the CAF model and related topics. The idea of transforming the European CAF Centre into a broader European Quality Centre was also introduced. After five years in leadership, Gracia Vara Arribas concluded her tenure, and Tihana Puzić became the new Head of the European CAF Centre.

CER – The New External Feedback Assessment Process

The main points of the programme for the upcoming training on the newly revised form of the CAF model’s External Feedback assessment – CER (CAF Excellence Recognition) – were presented. The new CER framework was published in June 2025 and can be applied alongside the original ESV assessment during a transitional period until the beginning of 2027. Several countries highlighted financial and capacity challenges in implementing the new approach, so possibilities for online training and peer-to-peer training were also discussed.

Planned Revision of the CAF 2020 Model

The European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) launched a survey in preparation for the new CAF 2026 version and requested national correspondents to distribute it in their countries. In Slovakia, we distributed the questionnaire among CAF model users and evaluators, and a significant number of responses were received from them, for which we thank all respondents. The results showed that the CAF model is considered very useful, but some elements should be simplified. More than 65% of respondents voted for shortening and simplifying the self-assessment report. The survey also indicated that there needs to be a greater focus on digital transformation and long-term strategic planning.

European Quality Conference

The preparation of the European Quality Conference, planned for 2026 or 2027, was also discussed. This conference was a significant tradition in the past and regularly contributed to the development and dissemination of quality management in European public administration. After a break of several years, its renewal is now being considered. It is intended to support not only the CAF model but also broader quality initiatives. Several venues are being considered, such as Maastricht or one of the EU member states.

Conclusion

The meeting of national correspondents in Copenhagen brought many impulses for the further development of the CAF model in Europe. Discussions focused on the growing interest of countries in implementation, the use of digital solutions and artificial intelligence, and the connection with other quality initiatives. The next meeting, according to tradition, should take place during the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Updated 13.11.2025