Civil society connecting EU and neighbouring countries

European Citizen Action Service jointly with the National Foundation for Civil Society Development and Impact – European Centre for Cross-Sector Partnership held an international conference in Zadar, Croatia, which focused on the development of civil society organisations in the Western Balkans (WB) and Eastern European countries of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The conference gathered more then 100 civil society representatives from EU and neighbouring countries, donors active in the region as well as officials from national governments. Croatian Youth Network was represented by Mr. Igor Roginek, vice-president.

The outcome of the conference is a document entitled “Implementing the Ljubljana Declaration: Guidelines for National Action”. Its ambition is to provide a comprehensive toolbox for national actions aiming at implementing the conclusion from the Ljubljana conference held in April this year.

This document gives recommendations to all three actors responsible for the establishment of sustainable and coordinated civil society in the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe: The EU, National governments and CSOs. Moreover, it calls for the integration of the conclusions of the ECAS’ publication “Towards a sustainable Europe-wide Civil society”, composed of national reports on the implementation of the Ljubljana Declaration, in the national dialogues and action plans.