Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
Regional Training on
Citizen’s Participation in DecisionMaking Process
Belgrade, March 28 -31, 2010
Trainers
Kushtrim Islami
Jelena Marković
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE
PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
– Abraham Lincoln –
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Basic principle
There are no limitations for the citizens
participation and active involvement in
processes of personal interests and/or
improvement of quality of their lives and/or
society growth.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Values and Basic Principles of Citizen
Participation
• One of the basic human right (1969, UN
Declaration of Human Rights)
• One of the major forces of changing and
developing society
• One of the aspects of personal
development and growth
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Values and benefits of civil
participation
Benefits at the personal level:
• Personal development: knowledge, skills, self-confidence,
creativity, motivation, self-respect, increased rights and
responsibilities.
Benefits for the society:
• Redistribution of the rights and responsibilities (sharing
responsibilities)
• Empowered citizens
• Increased efficiency and usage of available resources
• Sustainable changes
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
How to increase citizen participation
• Permanent building of culture of
participation
• Appropriate tools and methods
• Meaningful citizen involvement instead of
fake participation approach
• Enabling environment
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Status of NGO within the EU
• Council of Europe has provided the consultative status for NGO since
1952, and participatory status in 2003.
• White paper 2001. – marked a change of paradigm for the EU, by
clearly defining the EU policy process as the result of different
influences and mechanisms of dialogue and participation which are
not limited to the institutional triangle, and also by acknowledging
the need to foster citizens involvement in the EU process.
• Basic principles were enshrined in the five key principles of good
governance: openness, participation, accountability, effectiveness and
coherence.
• Inclusion of Article 47 in the Constitutional Treaty, 2005
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Main findings - EU Civil Society Contact
Group
•
Soft framework at EU level: EU democratic deficit and lack of
accountability mechanisms and NGOs growing engagement within the
EU and national level policy arena.
• Absence of clear cut definition: a continuum from informal lobbing to
structured relation. Civil dialogue is marked by permanent tension
between expertise, efficiency and participation.
• Imbalance between institutions and throughout policy areas.
European Commission appears as the main driver for structured
forms of interactions, followed by EU Economic and Social Committee.
EU Parliament – more informal ways of interaction.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
Main features of the EU
framework for civil dialogue
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Commission focused
Exact scope to be defined
Absence of binding representativity criteria
Reject of accreditation system
Voluntary approach
Wide definition of civil society
Stakeholder dialogue
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Key challenges:
• Providing an enabling structure leading to
concrete outcomes. NGOs are interested to
contribute if they can influence policy making.
Feedback from participatory processes is
obligatory to avoid fatigue participation.
• Better horizontal coordination and equal access
• Strengthening trust and mutual understanding
between CSOs and EU Institutions
• The need for an inclusive approach
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Recommendations
• Reviewing and strengthening civil dialogue
• Putting in place an efficient and effective dialogue
structure
• Making participation matter
• Increasing transparency and stakeholder balance
• Opening up the Council
• Ensuring a real consultation on horizontal issues
• Ensuring an enabling environment for national NGOs to
participate in EU debates
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
Mechanisms
Dialogue at macro policy level
• Biannual meetings
• Multi stakeholder forums
Meso policy level and technical dialogue
• Consultative committees and expert groups
• Public internet consultations
• Regular informal meetings with NGOs funded by a specific programme
• Ad hoc meetings on specific issues
• Seminars, workshops and roundtables
• Open hearings, conferences, broad events
• Dialogue for a
• Focus groups, citizen panels
• Studies
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
CODE OF GOOD PRACTICE ON
CIVIL PARTICIPATION IN THE
DECESION – MAKING PROCESS
•
The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has recognized
the ``essential contribution made by NGOs to the development and
realization of democracy and human rights.``
•
In 2007 INGO conference resulted in decision that Code of Good
Practice will be drafted
•
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe and the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe welcomed the
document
•
Code of Good Practice adopted by the Conference of INGO on
October 1, 2009.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
The final aim
• To enhance citizen's empowerment and
participation in the democratic process at local,
regional and national levels.
• Code is not have mandatory character, does not
prescribe the rules or require enforcement
mechanisms
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
• The principal objective is to contribute to
the creation of enabling environment for
NGOs by defining the set of general
principles, guidelines, tools and
mechanisms for civil participation in the
political decision making processes.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Why the active role of NGOs is so
important
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Knowledge and skills
Independent expertise
Connection with the constituency
Influence on policy making
Multiplier for the further engagement of
the citizens
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
Basic principles for Civil
Participation
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Participation
Trust
Accountability and transparency
Independence
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Conditions for Civil Participation
Enabling environment:
• Rule of law;
• Adherence to fundamental democratic principles;
• Political will;
• Favorable legislation;
• Clear procedures;
• Long term support and resources;
• Shared interest and space for cooperation and dialogue.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
Level of participation
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•
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Information
Consultation
Dialogue
Partnership
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Steps in political decision making
processes
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Agenda setting
Drafting
Decision
Implementation
Monitoring
Reformulation
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Agenda setting
NGOs
Public authorities
• Advocating
• Information and
awareness building
• Expertise and advice
• Innovation
• Service provision
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•
•
•
Information sharing
Procedures
Resource provision
Responsiveness
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Tools and mechanisms
Information level:
• Access to information
• Research
• Campaign and lobbying
• Website
Consultation level:
• Petitioning
• Consultation
Dialoge:
• Hearings and public
forum
• Citizen's forum and
future councils
• Key government contact
Partnership:
• Work group or
committee
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Drafting
NGOs
Public authorities
• Advocating
• Information and
awareness building
• Expertise and advice
• Innovation
• Service provision
• Watchdog function
•
•
•
•
Information sharing
Procedures
Resource provision
Responsiveness
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Tools and mechanisms
Information level:
• Open and free access to policy
documents
• Research
• Campaign and lobbying
• Website
• Webcasts
Consultation and dialogue level:
• Hearings and Q&A panels
• Expert seminars and meetings
• Petitioning
• Consultation
• Multi stakeholders committees
• Advisory bodies
Partnership:
• Co-drafting
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Decision
NGOs
• Advocating
• Information and
awareness building
• Expertise and
advice
• Watchdog function
Public authorities
• Information sharing
• Procedures
• Resource provision
• Responsiveness
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Tools and mechanisms
Information level:
• Campaign and lobbying
Consultation and dialogue
level:
• Open plenary or
committee session
Partnership:
• Joint decision making
• Co-decision making
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Implementation
NGOs
• Information and
awareness building
• Service provision
• Watchdog function
Public authorities
• Information sharing
• Procedures
• Resource provision
• Responsiveness
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Tools and mechanisms
Information level:
• Open and free access to policy
documents
• E-mail alerts
• FAQs
• Website
• Publicly advertised tender
procedures
Consultation:
• Events, conferences, forums,
seminars
Dialogue level:
• Capacity building
seminars
• Training seminars
Partnership:
• Strategic partnership
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Monitoring
NGOs
• Advocating
• Expertise and
advice
• Service provision
• Watchdog function
Public authorities
• Information sharing
• Responsiveness
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Tools and mechanisms
Information level:
• Open and free access to
information
• Evidence gathering
• Evaluation
• Independent research studies
Consultation:
• Feedback mechanisms
Dialogue level:
• Work group or committee
Partnership:
• Work group or committee
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Reformulation
NGOs
Public authorities
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Advocating
Expertise and advice
Innovation
Service provision
Information sharing
Procedures
Resource provision
Responsiveness
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Tools and mechanisms
Information level:
• Open and free access to
information
Consultation:
• Conference or meeting
• On line consultations
Dialogue level:
• Seminars and
deliberative forums
Partnership:
• Work group or
committee
Technical Assistance for
Civil Society Organisations
Regional Office
This project is funded
by the European Union.
Cross cutting tools and
mechanisms
• E – participation
• Capacity building for participation
• Structures for cooperation between NGOs
and public authorities
• Framework documents on cooperation
between NGOs and public authorities