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.

Starting in 2019, BCSDN related to the EU advocacy, supported by the core funding from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF). 

[This activity is in accordance with Priority 1 (To facilitate a common understanding of the enabling environment for civil society development among key actors and recognition of a common framework and tools (MM), Priority 2 To promote and recognize civil society as a competent, democratic partner in the EU accession process) and Priority 3 (To support the development of models and sources for CS access and effective use of (financial) resources.] from BCSDN Strategic Outlook 2017- 2020]

What to expect

• Advocacy efforts to improve overall EU support to civil society including actions towards and with the EC, the EP, European institutions and networks
• Preparation of policy documents and recommendations on EU Guidelines for Support of Civil Society Development in the Enlargement Countries
• Information-sharing on EU related news regarding civil society dialogue and CSDev; (2017-2020)
• Participating and organazing relevant EU – WBT events