The sector consultations “Improving the Structural Dialogue between Institutions and Civil Society in the EU Accession Process” were held on 20 November 2019. The event was attended by more than 130 representatives from civil society organizations and institutions, all of whom reiterated the need for policy dialogue between institutions and civil society organizations under the EU accession process. In addition, recommendations were made and consultations were organized with representatives from sector working groups and the civil society aimed to promote the method of work and civil society participation in key sector reforms.
The event was opened with a panel discussion that included representatives from the consortium implementing the project “CSO Dialogue – Platform for Structural Participation in EU Integrations”, and Kalinka Gaber, State Secretary from the Secretariat for European Affairs, which serves as collaborating institution in the project and key partner in the country’s accession in the European Union.
Fani Karanfilova-Panovska, Executive Director of the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia, stressed that while, in the past, civil society organizations had limited access to policy creation, today there is undeniable need for institutions to be open and to create the practice for structural dialogue. The contribution by civil society organizations, which base their advocacy on the needs of citizens, will improve quality of policies, stated Kalinka Gaber, State Secretary from the Secretariat for European Affairs, and explained that sector working groups represent an interdepartmental forum for sector-specific policy dialogue, setting priorities for EU financial assistance and coordination of the overall foreign aid. She underlined the institutions’ preparedness to commit to successful structural dialogue and called the civil society organizations to make constructive contributions to policy creation and adjust to the narrow timeframe under which the institutions operate.
German Filkov, President of the Center for Civil Communications, indicated that key efforts under the project “CSO Dialogue – Platform for Structural Participation in EU Integrations” include argument- and evidence-based advocacy. Monitoring reports on effects and work of sector working groups will provide significant guidelines to ensure best utilization of the sector working groups’ potential.
Blazhen Maleski, researcher at Reactor – Research in Action, pointed that designed project activities should help efforts to promote gender equality. Unequal participation of women in policy processes amounts to unequal influence and therefore by mapping participation of citizens and civil society organizations in decision-making processes at local and national level the project will secure better information and policy proposals to promote gender equality.
Sandra Anastasovska-Kuzmanovski, project manager, explained that the sector coordination marks the official start of the project “CSO Dialogue – Platform for Structural Participation in EU Integrations”. She presented the platform for civil society participation (www.dijalogkoneu.mk) as the central point for consultations between institutions and the civil society with focus on the three consultation mechanisms, i.e. sector working groups, Council for Cooperation with and Development of the Civil Society, and negotiation teams.
In the second part, civil society organizations and representatives from institutions, organized into 10 sector groups, were able to get better familiarized with this consultation mechanism and to offer specific proposals to advance its efficiency and inclusiveness.
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This project is financed by the European Union. It is implemented by the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia, in partnership with Eurothink – Center for European Strategies, Center for Civil Communications and Reactor – Research in Action, and in cooperation with the Secretariat for European Affairs.