CAF National Correspondents Meetings are held twice a year and provide an important platform for exchanging experiences, sharing good practices and discussing the future development of CAF. In 2026, the tradition continued with the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) hosting the meeting at its headquarters in Maastricht on 21 April 2026. The meeting was organised in a hybrid format, bringing together 16 representatives from member and partner countries, as well as international organisations including EIPA, OECD/SIGMA, the European Commission and ReSPA. Another 24 participants joined the meeting online.

Main Topics of the Meeting

Country Updates and Exchange: Developments and Initiatives

The opening session, led by Isabelle Verschueren (Belgium), focused on recent developments and achievements within national CAF communities across 16 countries, including Slovakia. National CAF Correspondents both onsite and online contributed to the discussion, exchanging experiences and offering support in addressing challenges within their national environments. The discussion highlighted practical experiences with CAF implementation and identified several shared challenges, particularly digitalisation and reducing administrative burden.

CAF Synthesis on Country Level: Italy’s CAF Journey

Italy presented the key elements of the C.R.E.S.C.I.T.A. project (crescita meaning “growth” in Italian), highlighting several inspirational developments. These included referencing CAF directly in the central planning document for Italian Public Administration, integrating CER into strengthened national training schemes and pilot implementations, as well as updating the F@cile platform supporting the CAF self-assessment process. Another focal point was the lessons learned from institutionalising the first regional CAF centre, with the goal of creating a territorial network to further diffuse CAF at regional and local level in Italy.

User-Centric Public Services (European Commission)

The European Commission presented the initiative “Quality of Public Administration Toolbox for Practitioners”, highlighting user-centricity as a core EU principle for better public administration. Recent Eurobarometer data show that citizens and businesses value clear information, speed and easy navigation, but still face delays, repeated data requests and fragmented digital services. It was therefore stressed that digitalisation alone is not enough and that administrative processes “behind the screen” also need to be simplified. In this context, CAF was highlighted as a useful framework for supporting organisational improvement and more user-centred public services.

Simplification and Burden Reduction in Public Administration (SIGMA)

The presentation highlighted that simplifying public administration remains an ongoing priority, as complex rules and administrative burdens continue to consume significant time for citizens and businesses. Particular emphasis was placed on the need for more agile and user-centred public administration, focused not only on internal efficiency but also on the real experiences of citizens, businesses and public servants. In this context, the SIGMA initiative “Portfolio for Simplification of Public Services” was presented as a tool supporting user-centred simplification. CAF was highlighted as a practical framework for embedding these principles within public organisations and supporting continuous improvement.

AI Use in the CAF Process (ReSPA)

The discussion highlighted that while CAF is conceptually strong, its implementation can often be demanding in practice, particularly in terms of time, staff capacity and coordination. Participants were introduced to a proposed CAF e-platform designed to support the entire CAF cycle — from self-assessment to monitoring improvement measures. The platform is being developed within ReSPA’s Knowledge Management Platform. AI is expected to support the process through input synthesis, report drafting and progress monitoring, while decision-making remains in the hands of users. An additional pilot web-based application developed in Montenegro was also presented, enabling public administrations to manage the full CAF cycle with AI-supported assistance throughout the process.

CAF Update (EIPA)

An update was provided on the preparation of the new CAF version, aimed primarily at simplifying the framework and reducing administrative burden. Discussions focused on possible adjustments to make CAF more practical and user-friendly, including the wider use of digital tools. It was also noted that the original plan to finalise the update in 2026 will most likely be postponed, with the revised version now expected in 2027.

CAF Network Action Plan 2026 – 2027

The draft CAF Network Action Plan 2026–2027 was presented in response to the key challenges and needs identified within the CAF community. The action plan focuses on several priority areas, including strengthening the position of CAF, promoting CAF at European level, supporting national implementation, developing practical tools and capacities, and improving impact measurement and continuous improvement.

Conclusion

The next CAF National Correspondents Meeting is expected to take place in the second half of 2026 during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Updated 12.05.2026