Cooperation between Civil Society and the Government in the European Integration Process Prishtina, 21 October 2010 Sasho Klekovski, MCMS / MCIC

1. Bashkëpunimi i shoqërise civile dhe
Qeverisë së Maqedonisë
Saradnja izmedgu GD i Vlade u Makedoniji
Cooperation between CS and the Government in Macedonia
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 1
Sasho Klekovski, MCMS / MCIC
Cooperation between Civil Society and the Government
in the European Integration Process
Prishtina, 21 October 2010

2. Content
• Definitions
• Parliament
• Government
• Municipalities
• Characteristics of the cooperation
• Recommendations
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 2

3. Definitions
• Civil Society is “the arena – outside of the
family, the state, and the market – which is
created by individual and collective actions,
organisations and institutions to advance
shared interests” (Civicus, 2009)
• Social capital is “the aggregate of the actual or
potential resources which are linked to
possession of a durable network of more or less
institutionalized relationships of mutual
acquaintance or recognition” ( Pierre Bourdieu,
1986)
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 3

4. Parliament
• Rules of Procedure of the Parliament - the
opportunity to participate in the working bodies
of the Parliament (art. 122)
• 2000 - Macedonian Women's Lobby
• 2003 - Interparty parliamentary lobby group for
people with disabilities
• 2004 - Office for contact between CSOs and
Parliament
• 2007 – National Council for European
Integration (NCEI)
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 4

5. Parliament / NCEI
• NCEI consist of 17 members, led by the opposition
(art 3 & 4)
– Seven MPs (three-ruling parties, four-opposition)
– Chairperson of CEA and JPC EU/MK
– Vice PM for EU, Cabinet of the PM
– Academy, Association of municipalities and Association of
journalists of Macedonia
• NCEI participants (art. 5) are
– Chambers of commerce and trade unions
– Religious communities (five)
– Civic Platform of Macedonia (one)
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 5

6. Government
• 2004 - Department for Cooperation with NGOs
in General Secretariat
• 2007 - Strategy for Cooperation between the
Government and Civil society
– Public policy: Amended Rules of the Government –
laws are available on the websites, representatives
of CSOs are involved in working groups in several
ministries)
– Legal Framework: new Law on Associations and
Foundations, 2010 – further liberalization, public
benefit status
– Sustainability: Government funding for CSO
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 6

7. Government / EU Integration
• Secretariat for European affairs (SEA)
• Government Committee for EU integration
• National Programme for Adoption of acquis
communautaire (NPAA)
• Committee of heads of working groups
• 35 working groups
• http://www.sep.gov.mk/Default.aspx?ContentID=43
• Sector IPA monitoring committees
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 7

8. Municipalities
• 52% of municipalities have appointed a person for
cooperation with CSOs,
• 22% have confirmed co-operation with a certain act, and
• 66% provide support (MCIC, 2009)
• Urban municipalities with greater capacity have a more
positive approach to institutionalize cooperation:
– City of Skopje - A Strategy for Cooperation with NGOs and
established department for cooperation and support of
associations and foundations
– Municipality Karposh - Strategic Action Plan for Cooperation
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 8

9. Characteristics
• Partnerships (permanent networks) with the state and
the private sector (and among ourselves) is an essential
element for effective civil society (CSOs)
• Dislocated focus - CSOs in the past gave more attention
to building social capital with (foreign) donors than with
state and private sector
• Emphasis on legal framework - CS focuses on the legal
framework that enables cooperation -something that
has already been achieved
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 9

10. Characteristics
• Mutual acquaintance and recognition -
the missing factor - socio-cultural
constraints, the short period, the previous
mentioned issues, make visible the problem of
lack of mutual acquaintance and recognition
• From a legal framework to mutual
acquaintance and recognition
• Government to see the benefits of CSO as “free
outsourcing” – “crowd sourcing”
• CSO to accept its own consultative status and
the final responsibilities of the politicians
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 10

11. Recommendations
• Agreement between the Parlament and civil society - for
areas (committees) and organizations that will be
involved
• Council of NGOs - an advisory body to Government,
related to GenSec – Dep. for cooperation with CSOs
• Agreement between SEA and CS - for involvement of the
civil society in the European integration
• National strategy for cooperation of municipalities and
CSOs
• Strengthening of sectoral and national platforms and
alliances - to further strengthen the credibility of CSOs
Prishtinë , 21.10.2010 11