Albanian CSOs, including BCSDN member Partners Albania, have issued a joint statement calling for stronger alignment with EU standards on participation, funding, and dialogue, at a crucial moment in the country’s EU integration process. While welcoming recent EU developments, including the EU Civil Society Strategy and the EU Democracy Shield, organisations stress that their translation into national practice remains limited. Participation in policymaking often remains formal, dialogue with institutions is inconsistent, and the enabling environment and support for the sector remain insufficient. In this context, organisations call for early and meaningful involvement of civil society throughout policymaking and legislative processes, strengthened structured dialogue and transparency, and more open and inclusive decision-making. They also highlight the need to develop and adopt a new national Roadmap for the development of civil society, alongside improved monitoring, reporting and accountability, and increased, adequate and sustainable public funding. Civil society reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to reforms and supporting Albania’s EU accession process. Read more here.
Source: National Resource Centre for Civil Society in Albania