Today the future of the Civil Society Forum is discussed in Minsk

Photo by EuroBelarus Information Service

On November 4, 2013, in Minsk civil society leaders are meeting at the Conference of the National Platform of the EaP CSF “Future of the Civil Society Forum in the focus of the III EaP Summit”.

It is worth noting that one of the most serious and most important frameworks for the Conference is the EaP Summit in Vilnius in November, 2013, which will start the new stage in the development of the Eastern Partnership program. The representatives of the National Platform analyzed this point as one of the serious challenges for the civil society in the open appeal under date of September 30, 2013. We can forecast that after the Third Eastern Partnership Summit all Eastern countries-neighbours will be divided into two unequal parts – those who signed the Association Agreement with the EU and those who did not, which will, of course, affect the level of attention to these countries from the EU.

What challenges does this situation create for the civil society? What common goals for the future development does the Forum, being one of the EaP parties, recognize? What program of activities should be adopted by the Belarusan National Platform in the near future? It is these problems that are on the agenda of the today’s Conference.Both permanent participants of the National Platform who signed Memorandum on cooperation and other organizations (without voting right) are invited to take part in the Conference.

All up-to-date information can be found at the web-site: npbelarus.info, eurobelarus.info.

Reference: The National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum was founded in July, 2010 and became a common platform for consolidation and coordination of activities of civil society organizations in Belarus aiming for democratization of the country and approximating to the European standards in all spheres of civil life. In October, 2011 Memorandum on cooperation which establishes general principles, values and goals of activity of the National Platform was applied. Memorandum is open for signing by al interested civil society organizations of the country. Organizations which signed the Memorandum were given the status of permanent members of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. In November, 2012 The Concept of development of the National Platform was adopted.