Improving EU policies for CSDev in enlargment countries

BCSDN strategic approach is to improve EU policies towards local CSOs consists of advocacy for effective participation at existing structures for dialogue and programming at European level under current and future IPA and Structural Funds. BCSDN works also to influence policies on EU level related to the EU Financial Regulation and PRAG, through different types of involvement within the European networks’ advocacy efforts and promotion of support model synergies used by the EC.

In 2014 EC has taken on BCSDN recommendation and for the first time the issue of civil society has been structured as separate section within the political criteria of the progress report for each country and furthermore mainstreamed in Acquis chapters to some extent. The European Commission and the other EU institutions have become regular interlocutors to BCSDN advocacy work. Furthermore, BCSDN has actively participated in the development of strategic documents of the European Commission: the EC Guidelines for EU support to civil society in enlargement countries, as well as the IPA CSF planning and action documents.

All research and policy work has been presented to Brussels stakeholders through regular policy workshops BCSDN organizes annually in Brussels. In 2013 BCSDN organized a workshop in Brussels to brainstorm with the European Commission on the IPA CSF Aid modalities for the new IPA 2014-2020 period.

In addition, BCSDN has brought closer the perspective and input of the civil society into the academic research aimed to influence EU enlargement policies, as a partner in the FP7 MAXCAP projects.

[This activity is in accordance with Priority 1(Monitoring EU & National Policies on Civil Society through a Common/Regional Framework on Enabling Environment for CSDev), Priority 2 (Improved Funding Policies and Procedures for Civil Society at EU and National Level) and Priority 3 (Establishing Structured Dialogue Between Civil Society in the Balkans, National and EU Institutions) from BCSDN’s Mid-term Strategy 2012-2014.]

What to expect

• Annual Background analysis of European Commission’s approach to the civil society in enlargement countries
• BCSDN Analysis of the Progress Reports and EC Enlargement Strategy