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In 1992 the European Commission (EC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) launched the Sigma Programme to help countries in Central and Eastern Europe modernise their public governance systems. Principally financed by the European Union, Sigma has supported and continues to support EU candidate administrations in their preparations for successful entry into the EU. Since 1993 Sigma has also assisted its partners in the Western Balkans in building legal and institutional frameworks that promote good governance and management. As from June 2008 Sigma support has extended to European Neighbours and Partners.
In 2008 Sigma continues to work in close collaboration with the EC's Directorate-General for Enlargement for activities supporting the two new EU Members Bulgaria and Romania, EU candidates and potential EU candidates in the Western Balkans. This collaboration extends to EC Representations and Delegations, offices of the European Agency for Reconstruction (EAR), and the EC Liaison Office in Kosovo.
For its new partners benefitting from the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), Sigma will be co-ordinating its efforts with another directorate-general of the Commission, EuropeAid.
Within the Commission, Sigma also works with EC substantive directorates, such as Budget, Internal Market, External Relations, and Enterprise, as well as with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).
Sigma's yearly assessments of reform progress (launched in 1999) have provided input to the EC's Progress Reports on EU candidates and potential EU candidates in the Western Balkans.
As an administrative part of the OECD’s Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate (GOV), Sigma draws on expertise from GOV’s network of public management experts and decision-makers in OECD Member countries. Since the launch of the Sigma Programme in 1992, this network has expanded to include practitioners in Central and Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans.
For more information on EU relations with new EU Member States, EU candidates, potential EU candidates, and European Neighbours and Partners, click on European Union.
For more information on the OECD, click on OECD.
Learn more about Sigma's role, its priority activity areas, working partners, regional networks, working methods and delivery mechanisms.
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