BSCDN, a network of 14 main civil society development organizations from Western Balkan countries and EU Member States (Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia) urges, in a Manifesto (exceprts available here) to the candidates in the coming Elections for the European Parliament, to not forget the future European citizens in their campaign platforms and future activity in the European Parliament.
“We believe that the enlargement policy of the European Union offers an important incentive for democratic and economic restructuring and an inspiration for overcoming political, social and societal divisions in the region. Under the current external and internal problems of the European Union, we fear that enlargement commitments by the EU will regress on the priority list of the EU and thus threaten the ongoing process of progress made in reforms in the region”, BSCDN says in its Manifesto.
BCSDN adds that the accession process should not be an exclusive process between the EU Member States and a country’s Government, but should encompass more than legal harmonization with the EU acquis.
“Assuring access by the citizens and civil society to this will enable for early familiarity and involvement of citizens in translation of EU acquis into realistic, effective and sustainable reforms for the benefits of the citizens of the accession and pre-accession countries”, BSCDN says.
BSCDN urges the newly elected members of the European Parliament and the European Commission to ensure that the enlargement agenda remains fully on course, adding that citizens of Western Balkans should be allowed to feel some tangible benefits, such as an immediate Schengen visa liberalization.
The Network also demands sustained EU funding for civil society development in the potential and candidate countries, programmed in consultation with civil society in light of withdrawal of other external donors and lack of alternative sources from national and private sector funding.
BCSDN also asks for legal and financial environment that will enable civil society to be put in place as a part of the political criteria for progress towards EU membership as a long-term strategy for sustainability of the sector after accession and that Governments are held accountable to fulfill their commitments for development of civil society and civil dialogue as part of the political
criteria for progress in the EU integration process.
Finally, the Network urges the newly elected MEPs and the EC to ensure that the growing initiatives for a more open, transparent and structured dialogue between civil society and the EU institutions will be reflected in stronger inclusion of the civil society of the future EU member states in the policy dialogue regarding EU Enlargement.
BCSDN strives to contribute to strong, articulate and effective civil society in our countries as one of the most powerful tools for furthering the development and maturing of democratic institutions and the sustaining of the reform processes in the potential and candidate countries in the Western Balkans.
