The international conference “Public Policy and Public Administrations in challenging times in the EU and beyond” will take place on Thursday, 6 November 2025, in Aula M at Palazzo Wollemborg (Via del Santo 28, Padua).

The initiative aims to explore how public policies and public administrations are adapting to increasingly complex political and institutional environments across the European Union and beyond. Leading scholars from Italy and UK will address key issues, including the rule of law in the EU, administrative capacities in the implementation of welfare policies, the evolving role of local government in populist times, and democratic backsliding and its implications for public administration.

The programme includes interventions by:

• Prof. Emanuele Massetti (University of Trento) – Democracy and the rule of law in the EU

• Prof. Giorgia Nesti (University of Padua) – Welfare at the Frontline: Street-Level Bureaucrats’ Administrative Capacities in the Implementation of Minimum Income Schemes

• Prof. Laura Polverari (University of Padua) – Local Government in Italy in Populist Times: Service Delivery and Public Administration Reform in Italian Municipalities

• Prof. Sean Kippin (University of Stirling) – Democratic backsliding and public administration: the experience of the UK

The discussion will be moderated by Professors Paolo Graziano and Ekaterina Domorenok (University of Padua).

The roundtable forms part of the activities of the Observatory on Institutional and Administrative Capacity #CAPIS.

Attendance is open to all interested participants.

Programme #CAPIS International Conference 6 November 2025_poster