The meetings of the CAF National Correspondents traditionally take place twice a year, usually in the country holding the Presidency of the EU Council. Currently, this role is held by Poland, which, after successfully organising the 10th European CAF Users Meeting, also hosted the meeting of National Correspondents. It took place on 11 April 2025 at the same venue, the PGE Narodowy Stadium in Warsaw, continuing the atmosphere of personal dialogue and cooperation from the previous day.

The meeting was attended by representatives from 22 countries, as well as representatives from EIPA, OECD/SIGMA, RESPA, and GIZAM. The Slovak Republic was represented by the Slovak Office of Standards, Metrology and Testing as the CAF National Correspondent, thereby continuing its active cooperation in shaping the strategy and future of the CAF model in the European area.

Key Topics and Outcomes of the Meeting

The meeting was opened by the Polish CAF National Correspondent, Katarzyna Dudzik, together with EIPA representatives Marc Ongar and Gracia Vara, who reported that the European Institute of Public Administration is also currently implementing the CAF model. Furthermore, new National Correspondents from Italy, Portugal, and Georgia were introduced at the beginning of the meeting. Subsequently, current studies focused on the CAF model were presented:

CAF Impact Study 2025

• The study was carried out by the Public Administration Research Centre (KDZ) in Austria.
• The basis for the study was an open questionnaire involving 197 respondents, with the most responses coming from Slovakia – 29 responses.
• The CAF model has the greatest impact after the 2nd implementation cycle.
• The study proved that the CAF model has a strong impact on processes, planning, leadership, employee and customer orientation, but a weaker impact in areas such as financial management, diversity, and corporate social responsibility.
• The study is available on the KDZ website – https://www.kdz.eu/en/knowledge/studies/caf-impact-study-2025

The Institutionalisation of Quality Management in the EU Member States and Candidate Countries

• The study was carried out by the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA).
• The survey was conducted based on interviews with 13 experts from 8 countries.
• In most countries, the introduction of quality management systems is voluntary.
• Support from political representatives proved to be key.
• The annex to the study is in the form of a “living document” that can be updated according to developments in individual countries.
• The study is available on the EIPA website – https://www.eipa.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FINAL-REPORT_new-cover-V1.pdf.

The Level of Interest in CAF in Polish Public Administration

• This is the second case study, following the first one from 2021, with both studies using the same questionnaire to monitor trends.
• 1,117 public administration offices were involved in the survey, of which 273 (24%) reported knowledge of the CAF model.
• The main challenges of CAF implementation include human resources and time demands, process complexity, and the need for external support.
• The greatest utilisation of the model was recorded in the local government environment, which perceives CAF as a practical tool for performance improvement.
• Up to two-thirds of respondents confirmed the need for external support during the implementation process of the model.
• More information can be found on the website of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland – https://www.gov.pl/attachment/52c0d58e-19b8-4a16-8258-8ce2530e1936

The National Correspondents’ discussion subsequently focused on current challenges in the implementation of the CAF model, repeatedly emphasising the lack of resources – whether personnel, time, or financial – in the public administration environment. Although the CAF model offers comprehensive solutions, their implementation requires a systematic approach, support from authorities, and patience.

Planned Activities

• The review process for the CAF External Feedback (EF) has been completed, and only approval by EUPAN is needed. After approval, a 1.5-year transition period will begin, during which the new revised EF process can start to be used.
• Training on the new CAF External Feedback is planned for October 2025 in Brussels.
• The intention to hold an international conference focused on quality management, not just the CAF model, in 2027 was also presented. The goal of the event is to expand the network of contacts, support the exchange of professional experience, and involve other quality experts.
• Interest was shared at the meeting in creating a knowledge-sharing platform from various European countries.
• EIPA expressed interest in creating a European database of CAF assessors.

Next Meeting in Copenhagen

The conclusion of the meeting was dedicated to the outlook for the next rotating Presidency, which Denmark will take over from July 2025. The next meeting of the CAF National Correspondents is scheduled for 1 October 2025 in Copenhagen.

Updated 13.11.2025