- Published: 05.10.2007.
Civil society dialogue between Croatia and European Union
Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs, in cooperation with the National Foundation for Civil Society Development, organized a conference under the name „Civil Society Dialogue between Croatia and European Union: Status and Perspectives” in Split, on Thursday, 4 October 2007.
The aim of the Conference was to encourage the exchange of experiences and better cooperation of Croatian and European civil society organizations in the process of Croatian accession to the European Union. On the plenary part of the conference, representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), European Commission, European Social Platform, Council for the Development of Civil Society and Croatian Employers' Association gave their presentations. The discussion stressed the importance of investments into building capacities of civil society organizations for monitoring the implementation of laws adopted in the process of Croatian negotiations with EU. The role of civil society was additionally stressed as an unavoidable partner in communication with citizens on occasionally very technical issues of adjustment with the EU acquis. Following the recommendations presented in the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee, the importance of building civil dialogue was stressed. This dialogue includes, apart from traditional social partners (unions and employers), associations and other civil society organizations in striving together towards contributing to public welfare.
Two workshops were held as a part of the conference dealing with announced initiatives for founding the Croatian associations’ office in Brussels, as well as founding the Economic and Social Forum that would gather, apart from employers and unions, representatives of other civil society organizations, primarily associations. With regard to a series of newly opened issues connected with these initiatives, a near continuation of discussions on these subjects was agreed on, with the objective of identifying concrete steps to follow.
During the conference, National Foundation for Civil Society Development presented a handbook under the name Guide to EU Associations.
The conference included over a hundred representatives of civil society organizations, public administration, academic community and the media.
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The aim of the Conference was to encourage the exchange of experiences and better cooperation of Croatian and European civil society organizations in the process of Croatian accession to the European Union. On the plenary part of the conference, representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), European Commission, European Social Platform, Council for the Development of Civil Society and Croatian Employers' Association gave their presentations. The discussion stressed the importance of investments into building capacities of civil society organizations for monitoring the implementation of laws adopted in the process of Croatian negotiations with EU. The role of civil society was additionally stressed as an unavoidable partner in communication with citizens on occasionally very technical issues of adjustment with the EU acquis. Following the recommendations presented in the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee, the importance of building civil dialogue was stressed. This dialogue includes, apart from traditional social partners (unions and employers), associations and other civil society organizations in striving together towards contributing to public welfare.
Two workshops were held as a part of the conference dealing with announced initiatives for founding the Croatian associations’ office in Brussels, as well as founding the Economic and Social Forum that would gather, apart from employers and unions, representatives of other civil society organizations, primarily associations. With regard to a series of newly opened issues connected with these initiatives, a near continuation of discussions on these subjects was agreed on, with the objective of identifying concrete steps to follow.
During the conference, National Foundation for Civil Society Development presented a handbook under the name Guide to EU Associations.
The conference included over a hundred representatives of civil society organizations, public administration, academic community and the media.