In the frame of the advocacy initiative for the creation of an enabling environment for CSOs development in Albania, and following the National Conference “Social Partners-Time for Action”, organized on 13 and 16 December 2013, Partners Albania (PA) has undertaken concrete steps on addressing the issues presented in the Statement of Civil Society Organizations, for which the government has expressed its commitment.
At the end of April, in a meeting organized with the Task Force for the Enabling Environment for Civil Society in Albania, it was decided to present a request for a meeting with the Prime Minister, to address again the issues raised in the December Conference, as well as to discuss with the prime Minister about the progress of the process so far. The meeting of representatives from the Task Force with the Prime Minister was organized on May 9, 2014. During the meeting the Prime Minister expressed once again his and the governments’ commitment and willingness to support the establishment and implementation of mechanism/structures, and adoption of laws and regulations that would foster the dialogue between the government and civil society and would contribute to the improvement of the legal and practical environment for the operation of CSOs.
Following the meeting, positive concrete steps ahead have been undertaken with regards to: 1) Establishment of the National Council for Civil Society, as an indipendent consultative body composed of CSOs and government representatives; 2) Adoption of the Charter for Cooperation between the State and CSOs as a resolution in the Parliament; and 3) Fiscal treatment of CSOs, with regards to the excemtion of grants from VAT scheme in the new VAT law. Concrete proposals have been presented and are under discussion with the respective state structures for each the above mentioned issues.
For more information please visit PA’s website.