The Basque Journal of Public Administration (RVAP, ISSN 0211-9560 written version; ISSN 2695-5407 online version) came to existence in 1981 with Prof. Ramón Martín Mateo as its first director and then Prof. José Manuel Castells Arteche (from 1985 until 2012) and at present it is directed by Prof. Edorta Cobreros Mendazona, being the three of them Professors of Administrative Law.

It has always been published every four months, with three issues published in April, August and December of each calendar year. Since 2013, in addition to the printed edition, its content has been openly available online.

The Journal aims particularly at the academia and the staff that works for Public Administrations, with the primary objective of disseminating manuscripts on the Law of the Public Administrations and public powers in general.

It is edited by the Basque Institute of Public Administration (1 Donostia-San Sebastian St. - 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz), and in addition to its Direction, the RVAP has an academic secretary and a technical secretary. Its editorial board, mainly composed of academic experts, is the body that in the light of the reports issued eventually decides which manuscripts shall be published and for that purpose it always meets before the publication of each issue. The members of the Advisory board, composed of a large number of leading experts from different Spanish and foreign universities, are exclusively responsible of issuing the mandatory anonymous reports prior to its consideration by the Editorial board.

The manuscripts shall meet some quality and formal requirements and should be in all cases originals at the moment of their publication by the RVAP and their authorship has to be completely identified.

Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT)

After having successfully completed the evaluation process of scientific journals that was initiated in its VIIth call, the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT, acronym in Spanish) has awarded the Basque Journal of Public Administration with the certificate of Excellent Journal in 2021, which guarantees its editorial and scientific quality, what has been confirmed in 2023.