Purpose of the Review
The European Commission is committed to ensuring that Europe can draw on a modern, efficient public administration to deliver on its political priorities and make a difference in Europeans' everyday lives.
To support this goal, President von der Leyen tasked Commissioner Piotr Serafin in September 2024 to carry out a large-scale review of the Commission’s organisation and operations. This review aims to make the Commission stronger, more agile, and better equipped to serve Europeans in a rapidly changing world.
The final set of specific and actionable recommendations will be delivered by the end of 2026 at the latest.
We want to cut unnecessary complexity, improve collaboration, and create a workplace where people thrive.
Themes covered in the review
The review focuses on a number of themes which were identified based on an analysis of relevant data, a preparatory internal listening exercise to gather ideas through multiple channels and lessons learned from previous organisational change initiatives.
15 workstreams were set up and tasked with producing recommendations serving as input for the final report. The workstream were divided in three clusters: People and culture, structures and processes and involved over 150 staff members from across the organisation with different background and profiles.
People and Culture: Strengthen a collaborative working culture with shared values, aligned purpose, nurtured talent and accountable leadership.
Structures: Optimise who does what, governance and allocation of resources. Given the rapidly evolving and increasingly complex policy challenges of today, an agile organisational design that encourages collaboration is essential to ensure the right staff are in the right place when needed.
Processes: Reduce unnecessary bureaucracy. Exploring the potential of new technological advancements, including AI and data management, will be a key focus.
High-Level Reflection Group
This review was supported by the High-Level reflection group on the future of the Commission’s civil service, composed of nine senior individuals with expertise in transforming public organisations and driving change. The group was chaired by Catherine Day.
The purpose of this group was to serve as an external sounding board throughout the review, offering their expert insights and providing an outside-in perspective on the work.
The report makes nine inter-linked recommendations on how to prepare the Commission for the future.
This report is a key, external input for the final report which will be presented by Commissioner Serafin to President von der Leyen and the college by the end of 2026, at the latest.
Download the Final report of the High-Level reflection group.
High-Level Reflection Group members
Chair: Catherine Day, former Secretary-General
Members:
- Marco Daglio, Head of the Observatory of Public Sector Innovation, OECD
- Darja Isaksson, Director General, Sweden’s Innovation Agency VINNOVA
- Luukas Ilves, Founder, The Agentic State (former government CIO and undersecretary for digital transformation, Estonia)
- Maria Schack Vindum, Permanent Secretary, Danish Ministry of Nature and Animal Welfare
- Miroslawa Boryczka, Director of Management and Finance, OSCE
- Giorgios Pitsilis, Governor, Greek Independent Authority for Public Revenue
- Theresa Twachtmann, Managing Director, PD - Berater der öffentlichen Hand GmbH
- Luis Romero Requena, former Commission Director-General of the Legal Service and Budget