On 14 June, 2013 BCSDN submitted its comments on the DG Enlargement’s draft Guidelines for EU support to civil society in enlargement countries, 2014-2020 which were sent to them in May, 2013. The draft Guidelines has included some positive changes, such as more flexible programming and the availability of longer-term program support for civil society. BCSDN has welcomed these changes. They have also welcomed the more inclusive way of developing the IPA 2014-2020 support as compared to the IPA 2007-2013 cycle, with special focus on the support to civil society under the Civil Society Facility (CSF). BCSDN additionally, highlighted some important points which need to be kept in mind by the DG Enlargement when drafting the final guidelines. First, the Guidelines need to benchmark achievement at the political level; second, civil society and especially CSOs need to be partners in the EU accession process; third, space needs to be left either at the regional level and/or the national level to ensure unhindered support to civil society to address strategic issues for development of the sector; finally, indicators for civic non-formal forms of activism needs to be brought into the Guidelines. Download the draft Guidelines and BCSDN's comments here.

On the13th June, Tanja Hafner Ademi, the Executive Director, presented  BCSDN’s Monitoring Matrix on Enabling Environment for CSDev at the 29th Meeting of the Western Balkans(WB) Contact Group in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Members of the Contact Group, consisting of representatives of organized civil society (CSOs, trade unions and employers) in EU MS, confirmed the usefulness of such a mechanism and gave specific suggestions. Importance of improving cooperation between CSOs and social partners in the region was stressed, esp. on issues of common concern such as labor rights.

Civil protests that began as a reaction to the decision to build a shopping mall in the only green space in Taksim Square have been continuing nationwide. We regrettably follow the excessive use of force against protests in Turkey which disregards freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of assembly that have been guaranteed by international human rights standards since May 31st, 2013. This process has shown us that;

The Center for Development of Non-Governmental Organizations published their annual reports on the implementation of the Decree on the manner and procedure of conducting public discussion in preparing laws and the Decree on the manner and procedure of cooperation between state bodies and CSOs. The reports contain precise information concerning the way and extent of the cooperation between national authorities and non-governmental organizations in the past year. The information relates to how regularly and transparently authorities informed the public about their activities and in what way they allowed civil society to become involved in the drafting of laws and regulations and therefore became more active participants in the decision-making process. The reports can be downloaded in Montenegrin here (Report on public discussions and Report on cooperation).