From 27th to 30th June, two BCSDN members, MCIC from Macedonia and Civic Initiatives from Serbia organized a study visit in Belgrade for representatives of institutions and CSOs from Macedonia and Serbia to exchange experience in relation to the new laws on associations (and foundations, in the case of Macedonia) adopted in 2009 and 2010 in both countries, respectively.
The study visit was attended by nine representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Cooperation with NGOs in the General Secretariat of Government, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Central Registry from Macedonia and representatives of MCIC.
The aim of the visit was to expose the Macedonian officials to the Serbian Law on Associations, which entered into force in October 2009 and thus, contribute to faster and proper implementation of new Macedonian Law on Associations and Foundations adopted in April this year.
Participants had the opportunity to visit the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government and the Business Registers Agency (responsible for registration of associations), Agency for Cooperation with CSOs operating within the Belgrade City Assembly, the Office for European Integration, the Deputy Prime Ministers Office Social Inclusion and Poverty Reduction Unit and the Ministry of Labour (the Department on Protection of Children’s Rights) as well as the Shelter for Street Children. Also, participants had the opportunity to meet with representatives of several leading CSOs who have an active role in the processes of policy- making and enacting laws in Serbia, i.e. Civic Initiatives, the Balkan Fund for Local Initiatives, the Committee of Lawyers for Human Rights, European Movement and Group 484.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government presented the work of the Ministry and its cooperation with CSOs in the field of preparation of the Law on Associations (participation in working groups, debates, panel discussions).
Agency for Cooperation with CSOs operating within the Belgrade City Assembly was presented as a positive example of cooperation between CSOs and institutions at local level. Among others, the Agency provides annual financial support for CSOs in different areas and has its own development projects for civil society. The Agency is also the initiator and organizer of the exhibition of CSOs that work on the territory of Belgrade, which has a yearly tradition.
The participants found especially useful the visit of the Agency for Commercial Registers, which is responsible for the registration of associations. Representatives from the Agency presented the procedure for registration of associations, challenges faced, and also gave several practical tips for representatives from the Central Register of Republic of Macedonia.
The visit to Serbian CSOs enabled participants to familiarize themselves with the legal framework and esp. novelties brought about by the new Serbian Law on Associations, their experience in policy-making that are different with different institutions and often depend on the openness of the leadership of those institutions. In several cases, Serbian CSOs were successful in pressuring withdrawal of draft legislation from the parliamentary procedure to the time until the mutually acceptable solution was reached between the legislator and CSOs. In terms of financial support from the state budget (with the exception of the Ministry of Youth and Sports) there are no clear criteria for funding of CSOs and although that the transfers under the budget line 481 – Transfers to non-governmental organizations are big, the size of the state funding to CSOs is not clear as the budget line also covers funding to political parties, unions, religious communities and others.
Participants were very satisfied with the study visit, as transmitted experience enabled them to identify challenges faced in their own work. Because of the similarity of laws in both countries it is important to continue monitoring the implementation of both laws and to exchange experiences in the future. Of particular relevance are also established contacts for further cooperation associated with the development of civil society.