Documents

Chairman's Conclusions
NGO Meeting

Participants in the NGO meeting expressed their appreciation to the Slovenian Government for its initiative to continue the open debate on civil society's contribution in promoting stability in the region.

The main aim of today's meeting was to discuss ways to enhance cooperation and to examine the implementation of the NGO Declaration both by Governments and Non-Governmental actors, as well as to improve communication and information exchanges between the Stability Pact and the NGOs.

Task Force leaders underlined the vital role of NGOs in the process of democratization and peace building in the region as well as more transparent and efficient implementation of Stability Pact objectives. Increased involvement of NGOs from all parts of SEE, and NGO networks in the work of the Task Forces has been highlighted.

The NGO Declaration constitutes a major achievement of the Stability Pact. However, more efforts are needed to transform the Declaration into an efficient tool for consolidating good relationships between NGOs and Governments and in promoting civil society's role in the democratization process. Civil society is not an alternative to Governments, it is complementary, and should build a relationship of confidence and cooperation with the State in order to attain peace, prosperity and democracy. It is time to move from a sporadic and ad hoc approach to an integrated one.

To this end, the following have been proposed:

1. The setting up of a NGO consultative body within the Office of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact as a way of improving information flow and of ensuring integration within the structures of the SCSP.

2. The establishment of a Stability Pact Fund for the financing of NGO projects for urgent needs.

3. The creation of focal points or liaison teams in each country consisting of a representative from the Government and NGOs.

4. The addition to the Stability Pact website of a one-page information on NGO project links which shall be accessible to all NGOs and shall promote transparency among all the actors.

5. The development of a legal framework for the status of NGOs.

6. The adoption of visa obtaining practices in order to facilitate free movement of NGO actors involved in Stability Pact projects.

7. The preparation of country implementation reports on the NGO Declaration.

8. Better integration and cross-table participation of existing NGO Networks in South Eastern Europe in all three Working Tables.

9. A study of best practices of NGOs' involvement in the Stability Pact should be conducted.

10. The need to persuade officials in Governments to work closely with the civil society.

11. NGOs should elaborate, in close cooperation with Task Force leaders, concrete proposals in order to enable the strengthening of their own role and persuade the donors to be more open, flexible and sensible to new concrete ideas presented by the civil society.