The manifesto calls on: sustaining the enlargment agenda fully on course amidst the economic crisis and uncertain future of the Lisbon Treaty; immediate effect of the Schengen visa liberalization are realized as soon as possible and strictly based on criteria defined in the Roadmaps. In order to be able to support the reform agenda the civil society sector needs: clearer and more accessible EU funding and procurement guidelines; sustainable EU funding for civil society development in the potential and candidate countries in the Western Balkans remains sustainable and is programmed in consultation with civil society in light of withdrawal of…
Author: anja
In the run-up to the elections for the European Parliament taking place between 4th and 7th June, BCSDN is calling on the new Parliament and the new Commission to not forget the future European citizens once they take office. The manifesto calls on: sustaining the enlargement agenda fully on course amidst the economic crisis and uncertain future of the Lisbon Treaty; immediate effect of the Schengen visa liberalization are realized as soon as possible and strictly based on criteria defined in the Roadmaps. In order to be able to support the reform agenda the civil society sector needs: clearer and…
The letter notes that “While engagement with the EC Delegations in the region is improving in the direction of timely, regular consultation process, these cannot be said for the involvement of local networks and CSOs in the EU multi-beneficiary/regional policy, programming, monitoring and evaluation process.” The letter calls on the EC to “match the rhetoric of political will more clearly with actions” by pressing the local Governements to involve civil society as real partner. It also calls for improvement of civil society consulation practices under the Partnership principle enabeling civil society actors involvement in IPA programming, implementation, monitoring and evaluation…
Generally, users are also satisfied with the information and content of the BCSDN website and visit it regularly, i.e. on weekly and monthly basis. One third report concrete benefits from the information and more than half say the information on website is relevant to their work. The use of the local languages hasn’t been seen as an advantage since most use English as their preferred language. The website offers something for everyone. It is thus able to balance its function of a news-source, resource tool (through it databases) and archive. You can read more details about the findings in the…
In its comments , the BCSDN has stressed the further need for improvement in the consultation process on programming of IPA assistance with civil society; problem of accessibility of assistance to local CSOs; need for further pressure by the EU on national Governments to recognize civil society as its strategic partner and the need for exchange of information and practices on civil dialogue practices in the region.
The aim of the workshop was to provide strategic inputs into the BCSDN mid-term strategic planning process 2008-2011. More specifically, the workshop allowed partners to discuss strategy for the mid-term action and network’s registration, with the aim to become more efficient, responsive and actively engage in policy-development related to development of civil society in member countries. It also provided a space for exchange of experience and information between different stakeholders involved in the EU integration process on national, regional and EU level. The agenda included 6 sessions devoted to Opening of the meeting; Main processes and challenges to civil society…
While on the national level, meetings were organized on 15 May in both countries by the Government and the EC Delegations, the regional consultation was organized through written communication. Both Macedonian and Bosnian civil society representatives were disappointed to find out, that the presented projects are in the final stage of programming without much possibility to change these, although the EC/Delegations remained open for written feedback by end of May. Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) together with 8 CSOs has submitted written comments on 29 May. OneWorldSEE service BiH offers further information on BiH progress on consultations. BCSDN has…
CONCORD-TRIALOG Working Group on Enlargement, Pre-Accession and Neighborhood issues (EPAN) has submitted suggestions on improving the support of the EU to civil society in the pre-accession and accession countries covered by the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). The contribution focuses on the model of civil society promoted in the Instrument and the role of CSO in developing priorities for support to civil society. This contribution complements the CONCORD EU budget review submission, and builds in particular on the importance of the partnership principle and civil society involvement on Western Balkans. It has been elaborated in cooperation with views of CSOs…
The main highlights of the meeting are: Kosovar Civil Society Foundation (KCSF) from Kosovo and Vesta – Civic Iniatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina were unanimously accepted as 13th and 14th members of the network; plan of activities for 2008 of the network (incl. bi-weekly editions of Weekly e-mail alerts and production of the report of the state of civil society vis-a-vis the EU and related study visit to Brussels) was confirmed; partners agreed that the BCSDN Evaluation Report 2004-7 represents a good basis for discussion of the future of the network and will be used in further discussions on this…
The full narrative report is available here . The financial report is curently being audited by KPMG and will be available after an audit opinion is issued by the company.