The partnership between the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) and the European Liberal Forum (ELF) in digitalization and public administration reform began in Southeast Europe as early as 2015 when in a joint project we talked about “Liberal reforms for public administration in Moldova.” Back then, together with a mayor and a chairperson of the Estonian County Council, we went to Chisinau and Nisporeni to discuss the benefits of public administration digitalization with local elected officials. Of course, we did not stop there. Two years later, with ELF support too, we analysed the electronic reforms carried out in Bulgaria and Romania and compared them with those in Estonia, aiming at  “redesigning public services for the 21st century.” Our foundation continued on this path in various projects with its main ally from the outset the former Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to Estonia, Victor Guzun. He has mediated the dialogue with Estonian specialists over time. Private and state dialogue partners as well as politicians and journalists from Southeast Europe had the opportunity to learn about good practices in e-health, e-business, e-education, e-government and e-democracy. […]

Raimar Wagner,
Project director, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Office for Romania and Republic of Moldova