The meeting titled “Improving the Civil Society Participation in the Sector on Education, Employment and Social Policy” was held on 11 November 2019, Monday, at the Club of Administration Bodies (Club of Parliamentarians). It was scheduled five days earlier, on 5 November 2019, but the meeting invitation did not include accompanying documents.

The meeting was initiated by Mila Carovska, Minister of Labour and Social Policy, and Arber Ademi, Minister of Education and Science. The purpose was to reconsider ways to improve involvement of the civil society in policy creation and monitoring within the sector on education, employment and social policy. This initiative originates from the conclusion taken at the last meeting held by the sector working group for organization of joint meeting with civil society organizations, especially due to the need to encourage their contribution in these processes. This issue is of exceptional importance, having in mind the upcoming new cycle for definition of policies under IPA III and planning of pre-accession assistance for the period 2021 – 2027.

Introductory remarks were delivered by both ministers, Mila Carovska and Arber Ademi. Minister of Labour and Social Policy Mila Carovski stressed the need for enhanced involvement of civil society organizations in programming IPA III funds for this sector, while Minister of Education and Science Arber Ademi discussed current state-of-play related to policies in the education sector, as well as new developments such as OECD/UNICEF analysis of the education system, i.e. amendments to the Law on Primary Education that concern the composition of school management boards.

Participants at the meeting included representative from the NIPAC Office, civil society organizations (FOSM, Reactor, Macedonian Anti-Poverty Platform, Youth Alliance – Krushevo, NGO “Ljubeznost”, etc.) and employees from MLSP and MES. The Organization of Employers of Macedonia was also represented at the meeting.

Sandra Anastasovska from FOSM was invited to present the project “CSO Dialogue – Platform for Structural Participation in EU Integrations” as opportunity for better consultations and joint activities with state institutions. Her presentation covered project pillars, i.e. sector working groups, negotiation teams and Council for Cooperation with and Development of the Civil Society., followed by discussion on shadow reports that are part of project activities, signing memoranda of cooperation between the project and state actors, and work of civil society organizations within sector working groups. Sandra Anastasovska stressed cooperation modalities, such as internet platform and possibilities for organization of various formats for consultations, inviting both state and non-state actors to take actively cooperate in the following period.

Topics covered during the open floor discussion were:

  • encouraging more possibilities for greater involvement of civil society organizations in IPA programming through consultations and exchange of information;
  • creating correlations between policies and other ongoing projects in this sector;
  • capacity-building of the civil society for more significant participation in the sector dialogue;
  • initial involvement of other non-state actors in this cooperation.

The final address was delivered by Evgenija Serafimovska Kirkovski from the NIPAC Office. She informed about the five windows under IPA III and stressed the civil society’s responsibility in work of sector working groups as partners and participants, as well as the importance of sector working groups as forums that operate beyond IPA context and ensure policy and donor coordination.

Comments and recommendations

  • This was the first follow-up meeting of the sector working group with civil society organizations and additional meetings of this format need to be initiated in all sectors.
  • The project “CSO Dialogue – Platform for Structural Participation in EU Integrations” provides opportunities for more significant involvement of civil society organizations, primarily through participation in the internet platform and organization of joint meetings with decision holders, which should ensure better position for civil society development and identification of needs.

The civil society, civil society organizations and citizens need to be better prepared for meaningful contribution in programming IPA III and identifying relevant needs for financial support. That could be ensured by participation in the earliest stage and all steps that follow.