civil society forum for western balkan00
TRANSCRIPT
Civil Society Forum for Western Balkan
Report by Daniela Stojkovic JovanovicDanube Civil Society Forum
Civil Society Forum for Western Balkan
"Berlin process has proved extremely successful, and has two goals. The first objective is to bring the region closer to the EU, and the other is to encourage good neighborly relations and I think that both objectives are equally important", said German Ambassador in Serbia Aksel Ditman. According to him, Civil Society is essential for the second objective concerning good neighborly relations and is a relationship that has an absolutely crucial role.
Austrian Deputy ambassador in Serbia Mrs Sabine Krojzenbruner said that Austria is the main supporter in the Berlin process. Austria considers itself as one of its pillars, as with the Vienna Summit, Austrian role is not finished.
Civil Society Forum for Western BalkanWhat can ensure the sustainability of the Berlin process so far, as to monitor and advocate for the
implementation of the agreement by the Governments become the conclusions of the participants of the Civil Society Forum, which was held in Belgrade on the 11,12 and 13th of the May 2016.
The cooperation and involvement of civil society should be inclusive and to go from local to regional to national and transnational levels, announced from European Fund for the Balkans, which was organized Civil Society Forum
The conclusions from panel discussions and workshops, the Belgrade Forum pointed out that civil society is a cornerstone of the Berlin process, and that's why we needed much greater involvement.
The conclusions of the Forum will be followed by a synthesis of recommendations that will make by the Advisory Group for the Balkan policy in Europe (BiEPAG) and will be presented to the participants of the Summit of the Western Balkan countries in Paris on 4 July.
Civil society has many times come to the aid of support on the road to democracy, to the enduring support of European integration, in light of the many challenges, and recent assistance in the refugee crisis, and today is one of the strongest supporters of the Berlin process, which is at present the most important way to the European future of the Balkans.
Civil Society Forum for Western Balkan
DCSF presented to the participants with introduction of basic activities, and plans for direct implementation of EUSDR which among other things include the Participation Day, Bratislava, 2-3 November 2016.
Mrs Ulrike Lunacek,Vice President of the European Parliament told us that "Critical thinking of CSO s is crucial"
Civil society is already contributing to the Berlin Process for resolving bilateral disputes and cooperation of young people, and there are examples of achievements that can be exchanged in numerous fields, from building the political will for reconciliation to concrete projects, the statement added. During the two-day Forum participants reviewed the issue of civil society participation in setting the agenda, in the design and consideration of public policy proposals and assess their effects, as well as the formulation of key messages regarding the topics to be discussed at the upcoming summit in Paris.
These topics are cooperation among young people, migrant crisis, resolving bilateral disputes and agenda in the field of environmental protection and climate change in the region and Europe. Civil Society Forum opened on Thursday on the 11th of the May in Novi Sad and was completed on the 13th of the May in Belgrade, as part of the series Forum for civil society to monitor the Summits of the Western Balkans.
Belgrade Forum was organized as a joint initiative of the European Fund for the Balkans and ERSTE Foundation, with the support of the Regional Cooperation Council, the EU Delegation in Serbia and the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technology, in close cooperation with the European Movement in Serbia - Local Council in Novi Sad and Centre for regionalism.
Civil Society Forum for Western Balkan
With Mrs Sonja Licht, Belgrade Fund for political Excelence
The work of the Forum was attended by more than 100 representatives of NGOs, public policy institutes and other NGOs from the region, and attended by senior representatives of the EU and MEPs, representatives of regional and international organizations and foundations and regional media, according to a statement.