In line with the
decisions taken at the Poznan Forum, on 26-27 January 2012, the Eastern
Partnership Civil Society Forum Steering Committee finalised the Strategy
Concept and the statutes for registration of the Secretariat of the
Forum.
Strategy
Concept
The Strategy Concept (full
document attached in English and Russian), sets out the mission, vision,
core values and principles, and short- and medium-term objectives of the forum.
The mission is to
facilitate and strengthen the active and expert engagement of civil society in
the Eastern Partnership and in the Eastern dimension of EU external relations
policies, and in participatory governance and accountable policymaking with
regard to the democratic transition and European integration of the Eastern
Partnership countries, including prospective EU membership.
The vision: The
Forum operates as an independent, inclusive, transparent and sustainable actor
in the dialogue with all stakeholders of the Eastern Partnership. The Forum and
its constituent parts are recognised as representatives of civil society, and
as a key stakeholder in EU policy development and implementation with regard to
democratic transition in the Eastern Partner countries.
Short-term objectives
(2012)
- Professionalisation
of the Forum through establishment and legal registration of a co-ordinating
Secretariat to support and guide the work of the Forum and build stakeholder
relations with EU institutions and Partner country governments, securing of
start-up funding, and preparation of a sustainable future funding model
- Strengthening of
the national platforms as effective, well recognised civil society fora at the
country level, and establishment of the national platforms as essential
partners for all stakeholders in the Eastern Partnership
- Through continued
lobbying further development of the new EU Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility
to finance the capacity of civil society organisations, and support dialogue
between civil society organisations and government
- Transformation of
the Forum at the working group meetings and annual Forum into a dynamic,
grassroots-driven hub of national and international initiatives to facilitate
through civil society expertise and projects a more participatory policy-making
and democratic transition in the Partner countries, and to bring about policy
change to improve the quality of life of citizens of the Partner countries
- Recognition of the
annual Forum event and working group meetings as leading, agenda-setting events
on the civil society/EU policymaking calendar, and key networking events with
other civil society organisations and stakeholders in EU-Eastern Partner
relations
- Effecting policy
change through provision of well-timed, constructive contributions to the
Eastern Partnership intergovernmental platforms and expert panels
- More informed civil
society organisations through dissemination to them of well-presented,
up-to-date, essential information about developments in the Eastern Partnership
through the website and electronic bulletins
- Strengthened
activities of the sub-groups of the working groups, through support of the
Secretariat and through work with EU stakeholders
- Increased
participation of civil society actors to contribute to effective policy
outcomes, and monitoring of implementation, in the fields of democratisation,
human rights, social and economic development, and good governance, and to
foster the engagement of independent civil society expertise in the work of the
expert panels/thematic platforms
- Improved inclusion
of independent democratic social partners in the Forum through launch of a
Social Dialogue Working Group.
Medium-term
objectives (2013-2014)
- Recognition of the
Forum and its constituent parts as key representatives of civil society and as
partners of the EU and the Partner countries in the democratic transition of
the Partner countries
- Development as a
partner with EU institutions and Partner country governments of a roadmap for
democratic transition for the Partner countries, and for closer political and
economic integration of the Partner countries with the EU
- Enhanced policy
influence through establishment of an Advisory Council of political and
think-tank figures who can strengthen the advocacy work and analytical depth of
the Forum, in particular policy and strategic advice.
- Effecting policy
reform through establishment of the sub-groups of the working groups and the
national platforms as key drivers of civil society engagement and expertise in
a locally driven, decentralised Forum
- Consolidation of
professional support for the work of the Forum, and for building stakeholder
relations with all relevant actors through securing of sustainable funding and
office space for a Secretariat with the necessary staff
- Strengthened
functioning of the national platforms through securing of sustainable funding
and necessary resources
- Facilitation and
demonstration of the essential contribution of civil society - at national and
international level - to the process of strengthening political and economic
ties between the EU and the Partner countries through co-ordination by the
organs of the Forum and, where necessary, securing of funding by the
Secretariat, for:
- flagship projects
monitoring democratic transition
- sustaining permanent
participant status at meetings of official intergovernmental platforms,
thematic working groups, expert panels, and flagship initiatives
- facilitating direct
input and submission of written opinions and recommendations in the early
stages of draft policy plans and priorities between the EU and the Partner
countries, preparation of practical policy recommendations, and advocacy for
them
- evaluation and
analysis to monitor progress in implementing commitments and agreements made
between the EU and the Partner countries in the framework of the Eastern
Partnership
- Facilitation via EU
delegations of trilateral dialogue at the national level concerning bilateral
agreements, including priority-setting in European Neighbourhood and
Partnership Instrument (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
- Securing of
concrete policy changes in the EU and the Partner countries on key policy areas
across the four thematic platforms, generating measurable improvements in the
quality of life, democratic participation, and human rights in the six Partner
countries.
Statutes
of the Secretariat of the Forum
A working group of
the Steering Committee finalised the statutes for registration of the
Secretariat of the Forum to ensure they reflected the decision of the Forum,
and ensured that the governance of the legal body was such that the Board will
always change upon the election of a new Steering Committee. The statutes were
approved by the Steering Committee, subject to any amendments required under
Belgian law, upon which the Secretariat of the Forum would be registered under
Belgian law with the Steering Committee as the Board.
Following
registration with Belgian authorities, at the end of April 2012 the
registration was approved, and the Steering Committee will now proceed to put
together plans for raising funds for the Secretariat to begin functioning - including
an open call for a Director of the Secretariat once funding is in place. The
Statutes are attached in English and Russian
Downloads
EaPCSFconceptpaper29jan2012final_eng.pdf
StatutesCSF_Secretariatfeb2012_eng.pdf
