Accession to the European Union is a key political objective for the Western Balkans and Turkey. This requires the negotiation and ratification of an Accession Treaty. However, the Treaty itself is not enough to make accession a success. As part of the process, candidate countries go through an often complex transformation to bring them in line with basic values regarding democracy, human rights and the rule of law shared by existing Member States. New legislation and principles have to be agreed, implemented and monitored effectively in order to advance towards EU accession. The role of civil society in giving citizens a voice and holding governments to account in this process is crucial.

It is for this purpose the European Commission, DG Enlargement, has created the Civil Society Facility (hereafter referred to as “CSF”) to assist Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), i.e. all not-for-profit, non-market and non-state organisations and structures in which people organise to pursue shared objectives and ideals[1] performing this role.

The overall objective for the CSF is 'To contribute to anchoring democratic values and structures, human rights, social inclusion and the rule of law, thereby supporting the EU integration process.' The CSF offers the opportunity to help meet the needs of the region by providing support to civil society development and dialogue. This is coordinated and streamlined by focusing on different areas of intervention such as civic initiatives and capacity building at a national level, “People 2 People” visitor projects as well as activities carried out in multilateral partnerships between CSOs both in the Western Balkans and Turkey and in the EU. It is intended that these should lead to a transfer of knowledge, the establishment of new networks, as well as innovative trans-national projects. Under the CSF the EC has also established offices to provice Technical Assistance to CSOs (TACSO) in the Western Balkans and Turkey.

The purpose of the 2012 open call for proposals 'Support to regional thematic networks - Framework Partnership Agreements and associated Implementation Grants' is to achieve: 'A more dynamic civil society actively participating in public debate on democracy, human rights, social inclusion and the rule of law and with capacity to influence policy and decision making processes.' 

As a result of this call for proposals the European Commission will enter into partnership with regional networks of CSOs to pursue shared objectives regarding good governance and the fulfilment of the political criteria for EU accession. The partnerships will strengthen CSO dialogue and the development of knowledge and experience. By bringing together representatives from different organisations in the Western Balkans, Turkey and EU, the programme will enhance CSO cooperation and understanding beyond regional and national levels.

The activities to be implemented by these Framework Partnerships should lead to the following results:

• Civil society strategies have been developed for the main sectors/policy themes and endorsed by local civil society, making provision for regional CSOs/networks to support national CSO coalitions and grassroots initiatives
• Regional CSO partnerships/networks with a thematic focus are able to present joint strategic programmes with the aim of adding value to national CSO efforts and achieving sustainable outcomes
• Regional and national CSO partnerships/networks perform timely consultations with citizens, pool expertise and produce high quality research, monitoring and strategic advocacy
• Government institutions recognise the importance and value of civil society participation in reform processes

The strategies proposed by the Partnerships must address the following priorities:
1) Strengthened capacity and efforts to provide analysis, advocacy and monitoring of key sector reforms at regional and national levels
2) Improvement of the environment for civil activism and state-civil society dialogue at regional and national levels
3) Improvement of the legitimacy, transparency and accountability of CSOs in the region

News

• 
  Balkans Act Now Project - case study as good practice This case study represents a model of good practice that we want to implement through BAN! Project on regional level, in regard to the questions of Partnership, Results and indicators ...
  Posted 13 Jun 2014, 02:39 by Henk Visser
• 
  Update on SEE SEP In the past year, the SEE SEP project managed to initiate a process in which CSO networks and citizens are beginning to engage in fact-based dialogue with key decision ...
  Posted 28 Jan 2014, 07:45 by Henk Visser
• ESSEDRA website is online Launched in December 2013, the Essedra website (www.essedra.com) will soon speak all of the project’s languages. Not just English, but also Albanian, Bulgarian, Bosnian, Croatian, Macedonian, Rumanian ...
  Posted 27 Jan 2014, 08:11 by Henk Visser
• HUMANIZING SECURITY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 31 January - 1 February 2014 Kadir Has University, ISTANBUL
  Posted 27 Jan 2014, 02:50 by Karl Giacinti
• Guidelines for EU support to Civil Society published The Commission's financial assistance will use an appropriate mix of funding instruments  to respond to different types of CSOs, needs and country contexts in a flexible, transparent, cost-effective ...
  Posted 10 Jan 2014, 06:28 by Henk Visser

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