This publication contains those papers presented at the seminar: the Issues Paper prepared by
Professor Jacques Ziller, University of Sorbonne, and five country papers prepared by national experts,
presenting the situation and experience in their countries. SIGMA has published these documents because
of the broad, current interest shown in central and eastern European countries.
Public servants in all countries are exposed to a growing internationalisation in most of the tasks
that are carried out in a national public service. Many public servants have to cope with supra-national
legal frameworks and with international standards in their daily work. Many have to perform in multilateral
and bilateral contexts to promote the interests of their countries.
The fact of working in an international context is a continuing part of life for public servants,
requiring adaptation of public service management systems. But when a state makes a radical change in
its international involvement, for example when it joins an international body and accepts new obligations,
there must be a heavy "up-front" preparatory investment.
