At the meeting, CEF Director Jana Repanšek provided the CEF Governing Board with a comprehensive overview of transformative initiatives and projects, highlighting the notable growth and innovation of the CEF’s work. She explained how, through the EU-funded WeLead project, the CEF engages young professionals across the Western Balkans (WB), equipping them with the necessary skills to drive meaningful change. In continuation, she presented tangible results of the NBM LearnOrgLab project, which fosters a culture of effective knowledge management and innovation among the National Bank of Moldova's employees.

Additionally, she shared information on how the "Structural Reforms Better Integrated Within Fiscal Frameworks"(FISR2) project funded by the EU focuses on integrating structural reforms within national fiscal frameworks, supporting reform aspirations outlined in the EU’s new Reform and Growth Facility for the WB and the Economic Reform Programmes (ERP) of WB and Türkiye. Furthermore, Ms. Repanšek noted that the CEF program actively involves public institutions in addressing green finance and digitalization challenges, tailoring solutions to country-specific needs.

Reflecting on her role as the Chair of the CEF Governing Board, Governor Dragu remarked, “Chairing the CEF Governing Board has been a valuable experience, allowing me to meet dedicated individuals who believe in the power of knowledge sharing. I wish the best to the next Chair and to all members of the CEF community. May the following year be rich in ideas, projects, and achievements.”

Similarly, Minister Vuković, the newly appointed Chair of the CEF Governing Board, highlighted the transformative role of CEF in enhancing both individual and systemic capacities within the public sector and said: “We see CEF as a catalyst of processes, those internal, improving inner strengths of civil servants and different teams responsible for different reforms, but also external, supporting with innovative approaches the overall reforms processes, increasing the quality and efficiency of the processes.”

Ms. Repanšek thanked governing board members for their guidance and support in shaping the CEF learning and knowledge-sharing program into valuable experiences for public officials in South East Europe and beyond. “Working together, we have achieved remarkable milestones, and I am confident our efforts will continue to drive positive change for individuals, teams, and institutions alike. I sincerely wish for us to remain committed to collaboration and innovation as we strive toward prosperous and sustainable societies across South East Europe.,” noted Ms. Repanšek.

In addition to the Governing Board meeting, members also participated in CEF Forum 2024: Strengthening the Governance of Skills to Retain Talent. The forum highlighted the importance of effective skill systems for supporting and retaining talented individuals.
Participants emphasized the role of effective governance arrangements in supporting work performance and acknowledged the need to transition into a learning organization for organizational maturity and growth. Furthermore, they discussed the importance of strengthening public institutions, creating a culture where learning and sharing are encouraged, improving leadership abilities, and using knowledge management to keep talented individuals within organizations. In closing, Ms. Repanšek expressed her sincere wish for continued commitment to collaboration and innovation in striving toward prosperous and sustainable societies across South East Europe. She emphasized, "In today’s evolving world, adaptability and effective knowledge management are vital currencies of tomorrow," highlighting their importance for future success.