New ENP and role of civil society in focus at EaP CSF Annual Assembly
26-11-2015
The 7th Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Annual Assembly was held in Kyiv on 19-21 November attracting around 300 participants, observers and guests who attended more than 20 sessions and a Networking Fair in the framework of the Assembly. The event was opened by European Commissioner Johannes Hahn and Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk.
“Everyone benefits when civil society is strong, proactive and independent. Democratic governments know they are stronger when they listen to you,” said the Commissioner, adding that the EU had substantially increased its financial support through the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility, benefiting more than 200 organisations across the region.
Yatsenyuk stressed that Ukrainian civil society was strong: “The role of the civil society is determinant for the activity of the Ukrainian authorities.” The Prime Minister emphasized the importance for civil society to maintain dialogue with government. “We need the help of civil society when the Government takes difficult decisions. And I am asking for such help,” he said.
The main panel discussion “Eastern Partnership between a Fixed Formula and Menu a la Carte” was dedicated to the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) review, with the Deputy Director-General of DG NEAR Katarína Mathernová highlighting the major points of the ENP review.
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) was established in 2009 following the Prague Summit, which launched the Eastern Partnership. The EaP CSF aims to support the development of civil society organisations and facilitate their dialogue with public authorities. (EU Neighbourhood Info Centre)
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EU Neighbourhood Info Centre – New European Neighbourhood Policy unveiled: focus on stabilisation (18-11-15)
Opening speech of Commissioner Hahn
Opening speech of PM Yatsenyuk
Opening speech of EaP SCF Steering Committee member M. Hovhannisyan
Resolutions adopted by the EaP CSF
EaP Civil Society Forum publishes resolutions adopted at Annual Assembly
24-11-2015
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) has published the nine resolutions that were adopted at its Annual Assembly in Kyiv last week.
Every year, a number of resolutions are adopted by the EaP CSF during its Annual Assembly – the highest decision-making body of the Forum. This year, nine resolutions were adopted on topics of major concern for the EaP CSF:
1 Resolution No1 on Food Safety EN RU
2 Resolution No2 on Climate Change EN RU
3 Resolution No3 on CRPD Implementation EN RU
4 Resolution No4 on ECHR EN RU
5 Resolution No5 on Moldova EN RU
6 Resolution No6 on Azerbaijan EN RU
7 Resolution No7 on Erasmus EN RU
8 Resolution No8 on Students Rights EN RU
9 Resolution No9 on Armenia EN RU
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) was established in 2009 following the Prague Summit, which launched the Eastern Partnership. The EaP CSF aims to support the development of civil society organisations and facilitate their dialogue with public authorities. (EU Neighbourhood Info Centre)
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Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum – website
Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum on Facebook
Eastern Partnership Youth: closing conference looks to the future
24-11-2015
The Eastern Partnership Youth Regional Unit (EPYRU) held its closing conference in Kyiv last week, around the title, ‘Youth Policy: The Way Forward for Eastern Partnership Countries’.
Among those addressing the Conference were representatives of the Ministries responsible for Youth Policy and of National Youth Councils of all six Eastern Partnership countries.
Presentations were made by each participating country on their experiences of the project and on their plans for future initiatives in youth policy. Experts of the EPYRU also outlined the project activities, and offered an overall view of regional progress and developments.
EPYRU Team Leader Hans-Jürgen Maeth emphasized the importance of continuing development work in the fields of training, non-formal education, information and sharing of best practice and legal documentation.
The Kyiv-based EPYRU aims to support the development of youth policy in the Eastern Partnership countries, on both a national and regional basis, specifically in the areas of evidence-based research, integrated approaches by government, and dialogue between government and civil society. Its actions include capacity building, training, study tours, publications and information collection and dissemination, targeted at key youth policy stakeholders in both government and civil society. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
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