Presentation of the results and recommendations of Berlin CSF event at the EaP Ministerial meeting

On December 13, 2010 the EaP Ministerial meeting took place in Brussels to discuss present state of play of Eastern Partnership and its perspective in the focus of preparation to EaP Summit in Budapest in May 2011. Most of foreign affairs ministers from both EU member states and EaP countries took place at this meeting together with European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fuele.

CSF speaker Ulad Vialichka was not able to join the whole Ministerial meeting because of protocol reasons (CSF is not a permanent member of such meetings) but was invited to make his presentation at the particular point in the agenda. He had about 10-15 minutes for presentation and possible feedback.

Recommendations of the second CSF have been finalized in rather concrete and pragmatic manner. It gives the opportunity to government officials from EU and EaP countries both to learn them more in details and to find opportunity for implementation of civil society proposals within the frames of the program in case of political will.

The main accent in Ulad Vialichka presentation has been done at particular plans and projects of CSF participants (visa liberalization project, monitoring report on human rights, initiative on development of contacts between people in the sphere of culture, education, youth policy etc.). Special attention has also been given to those steps, which civil society expects to be done from the side of the EU and EaP national governments. Among these steps are the following:

1. Establishment of a Brussels-based CSF Secretariat with a robust mandate and sufficient resources.
2. “Permanent participant” status of the Civil Society Forum in official platform meetings, thematic working groups, expert panels and flagship initiatives, with prior access to draft policy documents;
3. Facilitation via EU delegations of trilateral dialogue at the national level concerning bilateral agreements, including priority-setting in ENPI funding and review of financial perspectives; and prior access to draft plans and priorities that are subjects of the Action Plans and Association Agreements;
4. Access to information at national level about overall and sector-by-sector financial flows of EC budget support;
5. As in the Western Balkans, establishment of a distinct Civil Society Facility under the ENPI to finance the capacity of civil society organisations and support dialogue between CSOs and government.
6. Possibility to take a seat for CSF representatives at the EaP Summit in Budapest in May 2011.

Unfortunately it was no discussion after the presentation of CSF results, only a couple of positive comments from Ms. Ashton and Czech minister Schwarzenberger.

Further development of relations between CSF and other partners and stakeholders as well as pro-active strategy of development of CSO activities within EaP will be discussed during the nearest Steering Committee meeting that should take place in Brussels on February 1-2, 2011.


Prepared by CSF Steering Committee