The Council for Cooperation of the Government with Civil Society in North Macedonia is an instrumental body for fostering trust and cooperation between the Macedonian government and civil society, ensuring the voice of civil society is being heard and considered. Yet, the Council has been followed by many challenges since its establishment, including political turmoil, elections, change of government and government attitudes. Recent events show the government’s failure to involve CSOs’ representatives from the Council in important discussions and maintain transparency in its work. CSOs are voicing their concerns about the government’s lack of engagement with the Council and calling for genuine consultations with civil society and meaningful participation of CSOs in policy and decision-making processes.
From initial setbacks to becoming a shining example
The Council was formally established in 2018. However, the process of its establishment went on for four years and noted many drawbacks. In 2014, a draft decision on the establishment of a Council for promotion of cooperation, dialogue and stimulating civil society development was released for consultation. Although this was seen as a positive step in the cooperation between the CSOs and the Government (indicated in four strategic documents since 2007) there was limited engagement from both CSOs and government representatives in the process, putting the establishment of the Council on hold. Revisions to the initial draft were made in early 2015, including problematic regulations regarding CSOs’ representation and the legitimacy of the process, but CSOs concerns were ignored by the Government. In 2016, the Government adopted the Decision on the establishment of the Council without civil society input. CSOs officially voiced their concerns over the short deadline for the election of Council members; the lack of expertise among elected CSO representatives; the adoption of the Decision during a political crisis and a technical government; and the lack of a monitoring mechanism for the Council’s work.
The change of government in 2017 brought a notable shift and enhanced the collaboration between the government and CSOs. The Government positively responded to the CSOs’ requests and ensured a transparent selection process of 16 CSO representatives as Council members, as well as a balanced presence of civil servants, which concluded the official establishment of the Council in April 2018. In the next years, the functioning of the Council was in line with CSOs’ expectations, setting a shining example of effective cooperation between the government and CSOs. Under its competence to nominate civil society representatives in various advisory and working bodies, the Council supported the facilitation of meaningful dialogue with civil society. This progress was also noted in the European Commission 2020 Enlargement package for North Macedonia.
Despite these positive developments, some challenges were noted, including the lack of regular participation of CSO members during the Council’s sessions, mechanisms, and events, and an increasing absence of direct communication, engagement, and consultations with CSOs.
CSOs’ struggles for inclusiveness: Funding cuts and consultation challenges
The Covid-19 pandemic led to CSOs exclusion from crucial discussions and decisions in all public processes, including in the Council. Without consulting the Council and civil society in general, as well as without any announcement to the public, the Government drastically cut the funding for supporting associations and foundations provided by the Budget of RNM for 2020. Even though the Government later accepted CSOs’ suggestions for Covid-19 relief, the functioning of the Council continued to be a challenge due to limited ministries’ participation during the Council’s sessions.
In 2022, additional funding issues further strained the CSOs-government relationship. Again without consulting civil society, the government decided to reallocate 15 million MKD (approx. 244.000 EUR) of the funding planned for associations and foundations and allocated these funds to the Red Cross of North Macedonia. CSOs’ Council members requested an urgent rebalance of the state budget and an increase in the budget item for support to NGOs, but the request was ignored.
CSOs were also not consulted during the state administration reform in September 2022, when funds that were previously allocated to the General Secretariat of the Government- Unit for Cooperation with NGOs (responsible for administrative and technical work of the Council) were designated for the new Ministry of Political System and Inter-Community Relations. This prompted CSOs’ Council members to initiate a boycott, referring to the build-up of challenges and severe breaches of the principles of the Government-CSOs’ cooperation: the non-inclusive process of amending the Law on Associations and Foundations, the reductions of public funding and its ineffective and non-transparent allocation, and the long-unimplemented state funding reforms, falling short of the government’s goals outlined in its Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society 2022-2024. In lack of any response by the Prime Minister, to whom the open letter was addressed, the boycott that began during the Council’s session in March 2022 is still ongoing – with no end in sight. CSOs note that this stalemate will continue until the funding issues are resolved.
What went wrong and what is to be done?
The breach in the Government-CSO relationship has been a result of several factors: the general deadlock brought on by Covid-19, non-inclusion of CSOs in public processes, the government’s prioritization of other issues over civil society-related ones, or even the leadership changes, witnessed by the new Prime Minister’s unresponsiveness to and lack of interest in civil society. Nevertheless, this turn of events fully contradicts the Program of the work of the Council for 2022 and the Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society 2022-2024 and has a negative impact on the civil society enabling environment. Concerns about the capacity of the Council to effectively exercise its role as the main structural channel for consulting and involving civil society in policy dialogue and decision-making are also noted in the European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR) Screening report for North Macedonia published in July 2023.
As reflected in our reports on the Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development, the Council is a key pillar for enhancing the CSO-Government cooperation and should contribute to relevant development processes in the country. To foster trust and collaboration, the government must ensure the Council’s effective operation, involve CSOs in consultations, and allocate funds in a transparent manner. Failure to establish government-CSOs cooperation contradicts the principle of transparency, accountability, and participatory governance, initiating risks of power abuse and undemocratic tendencies in the country. An effective legal framework and a strong civil society are crucial democracy indicators; their erosion not only hampers progress but also impedes the country’s EU accession.
The Council aims to create an enabling civil society environment, a commitment outlined in government strategic documents. The government’s failure to cooperate with the Council contradicts its own strategy and indicates a lack of willingness to collaborate. CSO representatives of the Council seek an initial meeting with high-level officials to address issues like state funding and legislative changes. Government decisions must not hinder the Council’s operations, which can have a domino effect in obstructing CSOs work. Legislative measures should be taken to protect the functioning of the Council, intengrating them in the Law on Associations and Foundations .” – Snezhana Kamilovska Trpovska, MCIC, CSO member of the Council.
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