activities of the western balkans contact group
TRANSCRIPT
Activities of the Western Balkans Contact Activities of the Western Balkans Contact Group.Group.
What is the Western Balkans Contact
Group ?♦ History and characteristics.
Created in 2004.
Composition : 15 Members of the EESC⋆5 representatives of the Employers Group⋆5 representatives of the Employees Group⋆5 representatives of the Various Interests Group (farmers, consumers, NGOs)
2 years term. 2008-2010 (ongoing term).
♦ General Objectives. Link, develop contact, and cooperate with a wide range of locally active CSOs.
Bring added-value, i.e civil society expertise, to the work done by the other EU institutions in the WB.
Bring expertise to encourage the development of civil and social dialogue in the WB (creation and/or development of national Economic and Social Councils ; platforms of CSOs ; etc…).
Assist in informing Brussels-based actors on the difficulties and needs of civil society of the Western Balkans.
Develop inter institutional cooperation in those fields.
What is the Western Balkans Contact
Group ?
♦ Specific objectives – based on the conclusions of the 2nd Western Balkans Civil Society Forum organised in 2008.
Trade / CEFTA : request for a social and environmental impact assessment of the Agreement + creation of a consultative committee for CSOs of the region.
Energy Community : ensure the implementation of the MoU on social issues.
Objectives for the 2008-2010 term.
♦ Organisation of the 3rd Western Balkans Civil Society Forum. 1st semester 2010.
Potential Topics:
Transport Community : encourage setting-up a consultative body involving CSOs in follow-up and assessment process. (concept of national follow-up committees).
Economic and Social Rights in each country. State of play and roadmap for further improvements.
Objectives for the 2008-2010 term.
♦ Joint Consultative Committees (JCC).
Legal basis: SAA.
5th meeting EU-Croatia JCC – 5 May in Prague. Topics : flexicurity and communication policy on enlargement.
1st meeting EU-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia JCC – to be held in 2009.
Other activities of the EESC in the Western Balkans
♦ Opinions on civil society in each country of the region.
Adopted opinions: Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Albania, Serbia (request from the Commission).
To be adopted: Bosnia and Herzegovina (request from the European Commission).
Foreseen : Montenegro.
Other activities of the EESC in the Western Balkans
Thank you for your attention !
Feel free to contact us:
♦ Metka ROKSANDIC,
President of the Western Balkans Contact Group
E-mail : [email protected]
♦ Aurélien JULIARD
EESC Secretariat
Tel : +32 (0)2 546 99 69
E-mail: [email protected]