The Missing Link? Development and Functioning of Civil Dialogue in the Western Balkans Workshop, 20th May, Brussels

On 20th May 2010, the BCSDN held its 2nd EU policy workshop in Brussels. This year’s event was devoted to assessing the state of affairs in development and functioning of civil dialogue, i.e. structures and mechanisms for dialogue between public institutions and civil society, in the countries of the Western Balkans. The workshop brought together 54 representatives of local CSOs, networks and institutions from the region and representatives of EU institutions, especially the Commissions’ Directorate General for Enlargement, responsible for monitoring the progress of (pre-) accession countries and management of IPA assistance.

Three succeeding panels discussed the development and functioning of Civil Dialogue in the Western Balkans, an Acquis for civil society development and civil society dialogue and national and international cooperation. As a conclusion the main points were stressed: Development of civil dialogue must include structured input, i.e. structures and mechanisms of dialogue between public authorities and civil society, but civil dialogue should be understood and practiced beyond these. Civil dialogue is primarily about building trust and partnership between the two parties; While Acquis can be negotiated upon in the process of accession, civil dialogue as part of Political criteria should primarily be about adoption of EU principles and values. The Commission, through better policy and assistance coherence could especially influence the indigenous models of civil dialogue to develop to the degree and structures agreed upon on national level; Regionally, it seems, the links are not missing, but many established links from the past, both between Governments and civil society, need to be re-linked for a more effective sharing of information, knowledge and know-how in the area of civil dialogue.

Images of the conference are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/balkancsd/4678375338/

The policy paper, video clips of panelists, photos and PPP will soon be available on the BCSDN website http://www.balkancsd.net

Information provided by Tanja Hafner-Ademi, BCSDN