In a joint congress, held in Budva, Montenegro on 21-24 November, the European Movement International and the European Movement Montenegro have called for more action to be taken in the development of civil society in the candidate and potential candidate countries. Participants included Mr Milo Đukanović, Prime Minister of Montenegro and Mr Igor Lukšić, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European integration, as well as other representatives from Governments, parliaments and civil society organisations. The EU accession process requires the candidate and potential candidate countries to make significant reforms in various sectors from human rights to trade. A strong civil society base will ensure this process remains democratic, transparent, and accountable. BCSDN was presented at the congress by Taulant Hoxha (KCSF), as a panelist on the civil society development panel, as well as Ilina Nesik (BCSDN EO), Juliana Hoxha (PA), Maja Stojanovic (CI), Aleksandar Krzhalovski (MCIC), and Ana Novakovic (CRNVO). Mr Hoxha spoke about the state of civil society in Kosovo and the region, mentioning the BCSDN Monitoring Matrix and the cooperation with the EC on the development of the EC Guidelines for Support to Civil Society in Enlargement Countries and concluded that the vision for CSDev and EU support is, and should be, set by CSOs from the region themselves.
