Foreword  3

Acknowledgements  4

Abbreviations and acronyms  9

Executive summary  11

1 Introduction: Steering government through complexity: The evolving role of the centre of government  13

1.1. Introduction  14

1.2. Re-organising government to deliver  16

1.3. Prioritisation and planning to deliver  25

1.4. Capabilities for cross-government policy co-ordination and development  30

1.5. Conclusion  37

1.6. Key messages and practitioner tips  38

Part I Re-organising government to deliver  40

2 Estonia: Guiding machinery of government change  41

2.1. Introduction  42

2.2. Context: Estonia's changing machinery of government  43

2.3. Challenges and enablers for effective machinery of government change  46

2.4. Options for further exploration  64

3 Portugal: Bridging the political-technical interface  65

3.1. Introduction  66

3.2. Context: Delivering on political priorities across government in Portugal  67

3.3. Challenges and enablers for an effective political-technical interface  70

3.4. Options for further exploration  82

Part II Prioritisation and planning for delivery  83

4 Poland: Stewardship of key policy priorities  84

4.1. Introduction  85

4.2. Defining and managing priorities at the centre  87

4.3. Challenges and enablers to define and manage policy priorities  90

4.4. Options for further exploration  104

5 Bulgaria: Guiding the implementation of long-term priorities  105

5.1. Introduction  106

5.2. Steering long-term priorities - a demanding role for the centre of government  107

5.3. Challenges and enablers to managing long-term priorities at the centre  107

5.4. Options for further exploration  127

Part III Capabilities for co-ordination and policy development  130

6 Greece: Monitoring the implementation of priority reforms  131

6.1. Introduction  132

6.2. Context: Monitoring key reforms from the centre of government  132

6.3. Challenges and enablers for the centre's role in monitoring key priorities  135

6.4. Options for further exploration  148

7 Ireland: Ensuring an effective and agile centre of government  149

7.1. Introduction  150

7.2. Context: The Irish Government's role in steering cross-cutting priorities  151

7.3. Challenges and enablers for the CoG in stewarding cross-cutting policies  153

7.4. Options for further exploration  170

References  171