Dear friends and colleagues from EU and Western Balkans,
On May 6th 2020 the leaders of EU member states and Western Balkan states will meet under the Croatian presidency of the EU Council to discuss a new perspective for WB states to become EU members. Due to the corona virus outbreak, the original Western Balkan Summit will be replaced by an online summit. To ensure that the voice of CSOs is included, Croatian civil society under the coordination of CROSOL, and NGOs from the region, have planned to organize a shadow summit. Unfortunately, this was also cancelled. In spite of everything, we have decided to deliver the message of the civil society to the leaders through this declaration. We are inviting you – if you are in favour of this declaration – to sign it, so we can send a common message to the summit participants.
This declaration was drafted by CROSOL – Croatian Platform for International Citizens Solidarity, Human Rights House Zagreb, Documenta – Center for Dealing with the past, Civil Rights Defenders, Balkan Civil Society Development Network, Belgrade Center for Security Policy, Helsinki Committees for Human Rights from North Macedonia and Albania, Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis Skopje, Initiative for the monitoring of EU integration of BiH, Politikon Network and Sbunker.
Let’s hope that there will be an opportunity to meet face to face somewhere in Europe soon – wherever it is.
Thank you!
We, the undersigned civil society organizations from Western Balkan countries and EU member states, working on issues of fundamental rights and the rule of law, democratic institutions, civic engagement, environmental protection, combating corruption and protection of migrants;
Supporting the processes of European integration of the Western Balkan countries and advocating for their accession to the European Union;
Conscious of the problems and challenges Western Balkan countries face in securing and safeguarding the highest standards of democracy, fundamental rights and freedoms, the rule of law, economic and social welfare and solidarity for their citizens;
Aware of prevalent political, social and economic challenges Western Balkan societies experience as a consequence of wars, gross violations of human rights, non-democratic and autocratic regimes, and economic and social inequalities;
Cognizant of the political, economic and social challenges the European Union and its member states face in terms of political fragmentation and the rise of populism and extremism, economical and social inequalities, migrations, social security etc., and present fatigue among political elites and voters regarding the further expansion of the European Union to the Western Balkans;
Nevertheless,
Concerned about the serious attacks on democracy, the rule of law and human rights in some member states – particularly in the context of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak;
Concerned that the Croatian presidency avoided pursuing debates on the rule of law and democracy within the EU Council
Concerned with the lack of solidarity between the member states during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as in dealing with migration issues,
We URGE heads of states or governments of the European Union members states and of the Western Balkan countries to:
Intensify and accelerate the negotiation and implementation of the reforms in the process of aligning with the acquis communautaire, especially in the fields of fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, the rule of law, and democratic institutions. The Western Balkan countries should commit to genuine implementation of the reforms in order to achieve lasting institutional and social change, while the European Union should be principled in assessing the progress. Special attention should be put on enhancing the cooperation between the countries related to the fate of missing persons, strengthening cooperation and increasing efficiency of prosecution of war crimes, and supporting other transitional justice initiatives, especially the ones stemming from civil society, like RECOM. This is one of the prerequisites in building trust between states and societies in the Western Balkans. At the same time, any delays or postponements by the EU in dealing with issues of rule of law, human rights and democracy within its member states have extremely negative consequences on the democratization process of all Western Balkan countries. As a result, we expect the EU to demonstrate its commitment to its fundamental values – not only through symbolic general statements, but through concrete actions.
Urge and support authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to promptly implement the 14 priorities of the European Commission’s Opinion published in May 2019. In an open and consultative process with civil society and the EU Delegation to BiH, the Council of Ministers of BiH should adopt a new Action Plan for the Implementation of the EC’s Opinion Priorities to target and focus on issues related to democracy building, establishing the rule of law, and protecting human rights. The EU should send a clear message that candidate status is possible, achievable and contingent on BiH taking concrete steps in implementing the EC Opinion’s 14 priorities. BiH cannot be left behind in the EU integration process of the Western Balkans, but it must show commitment and deliver reforms as part of this process.
Start genuine cooperation with civil society organizations from Western Balkan countries in designing and implementing reforms, and support CSOs, both financially and politically in their efforts in supporting democracy and rule of law reforms. The European Union should continue to rely on information from civil society organizations when assessing the effects of the reforms and avoid any political tendency which brings no constructive debate at the domestic level and with the EU enlargement process. Pro forma simulations and proclamations of enlargement reforms, but without concrete and substantial changes implemented by governments should be disclosed as such and politically condemned.
Include Western Balkan countries as beneficiaries in post-COVID-19 response programs targeting economic and social recovery, and in particular in the European Green New Deal plans. The role of civil society in the relief of the crisis should not be undermined, but instead facilitated and supported.
Civil society organizations from the Western Balkans should be represented at the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Meaningful accession can only take place if it is based on an honest commitment to the democratization and economic development of the Western Balkan countries. However, this road goes both ways. For instance, the EU should be honest about the substantial challenges to accession, instead of hiding behind “problems of enlargement methodology.” Nevertheless, an improved methodology should be implemented as soon as possible.
Without full democracy (which is more than just a multiparty system, but the full spectrum of democratic institutions including an independent judiciary, media and watchdog NGOs), and respect for the rule of law and human rights within and outside the EU, there can be no vision of peace and development in the future. If the EU cannot guarantee and deliver on its own proclaimed values, we: the pro-European NGOs working in the fields of fundamental rights and the rule of law, democratic institutions, civic engagement, environmental protection, combating corruption and protection of migrants – must inevitably ask ourselves the question: with or without (E)U? We want to believe that our future is within the EU and that the values we fight for everyday: respect for human rights, democratic institutions, the rule of law and the environment, are in fact our shared EU values. Let this Western Balkan Summit prove it.
May 5th 2020
Belgrade – Podgorica – Priština – Sarajevo – Skopje – Tirana – Zagreb
# | Organisation | City | Country |
---|---|---|---|
# | Organisation | City | Country |
1 | Center for Monitoring and Activism - CEMA | Cacak | Serbia |
2 | Center for Europen Policy Studies on Regionaland Local Development | Tirana | Tirana |
3 | Albanian Media Council | Tirana | Albania |
4 | UZRH "Bolja budućnost" | Zagreb | Croatia |
5 | Centar za odrzivi razvoj ,,MARKRIKAT" | Brus | Србија |
6 | Le Courrier des Balkans | PARIS | France |
7 | Centre for Civic Education (CCE/CGO) | Podgorica | Montenegro |
8 | CURE Fondacija | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
9 | Centre for Applied European Studies -CPES | Belgrade | Serbia |
10 | Civic Initiatives | Belgrade | Serbia |
11 | Albanian Disability Rights Foundation | Tirana | Albania |
12 | Institute Alternative | PODGORICA | Montenegro |
13 | BeFem Feminist Cultural Center | Beograd | Serbia |
14 | Humanitarian Law Center | Belgrade | Serbia |
15 | crossborder factory | Berlin | Germany |
16 | Udhetim i Lire - Liberi di Viaggiare | Durres | Albania |
17 | Fondacija Infohouse | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
18 | Human Rights House Belgrade | Belgrade | Serbia |
19 | ADRA Hrvatska | Zagreb | Croatia |
20 | Forum civilna mirovna služba BiH (forumZFD) | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
21 | Civil Society Promotion Center | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
22 | Network for Building Peace | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
23 | Foreign Policy Initiative BH | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
24 | Initiative for the monitoring of EU integration of BiH | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
25 | IZAĐI | Novi Sad | Serbia |
26 | Udruga MI- Split | Split | Croatia |
27 | FOND | Bucharest | Romania |
28 | Hungarian Helsinki Committee | Budapest | Hungary |
29 | Youth Educational Forum | Skopje | Republic of North Macedonia |
30 | Heartefact | Belgrade | Serbia |
31 | Committee for human rights Nis | Nis | Serbia |
32 | Network of the Committees for Human Rights in Serbia CHRIS | Nis | Serbia |
33 | Local Democracy Agency Zavidovici | Zavidovici | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
34 | MULTIKULTURA | Tetovo | North Macedonia |
35 | North Green Association | Tirana | Albania |
36 | Vizion OJF | Tirana | Albania |
37 | Coalition Margins | Skopje | North Macedonia |
38 | European Association for Local Democracy (ALDA) | Skopje | North Macedonia |
39 | Balkan Network for Local Democracy | Skopje | North Macedonia |
40 | Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia | Belgrade | Serbia |
41 | Centar lokalne demokratije | Subotica | Serbia |
42 | Local Democracy Agency | Mostar | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
43 | Local Democracy Agency of Albania | VLORA | Albania |
44 | Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia | Belgrade | Serbia |
45 | Local Democracy Agency of Kosovo | Peja | Kosovo |
46 | Pescanik | Belgrade | Serbia |
47 | Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights YUCOM | Belgrade | Serbia |
48 | Italian Association of NGOs | Rome | Italy |
49 | SOLIDAR | Brussels | Belgium |
50 | Concord Italy | Rome | Italy |
51 | Mensch Raum Land e.V. | Berlin | Germany |
52 | Centar lokalne demokratije LDA | Knjaževac | Serbia |
53 | WWF Adria | Zagreb | Croatia |
54 | Centre for Peace Studies | Zagreb | Croatia |
55 | Agencija za lokalnu demokratiju | Niksic | Montenegro |
56 | WeWorld-GVC Foundation | Milan | Italy |
57 | Balkan Green Foundation | Pristina | Kosovo |
58 | Human Rights Action | Podgorica | Montenegro |
59 | Albanian National Youth Network - ANYN | Tirana | Albania |
60 | Human Rights House Foundation | Oslo | Norway |
61 | Center for Social Advocacy | Tirane | Albania |
62 | Albanian Coalition for Education | Tirana | Albania |
63 | Balkan Civil Society Development Network | Skopje | North Macedonia |
64 | PINK Embassy Albania | Tirana | Albania |
65 | Child Rights Centre Albania (CRCA/ECPAT Albania) | Tirana | Albania |
66 | European Centre Foundation | Tirana | Albania |
67 | Institute for Research and Policy Analysis - Romalitico | Skopje | North Macedonia |
68 | United Pro LGBT Albania | Tiranë | Albania |
69 | OU Podum | Otocac | Croatia |
70 | Terra Hub | Zagreb | Croatia |
71 | European Policy Institute - Skopje | Skopje | Republic of North Macedonia |
72 | Miramida Centar - Regionalne razmjene mirovnih iskustava | Grožnjan/Buje | Hrvatska |
73 | Sarajevski otvoreni centar | Sarajevo | Bosna i Hercegovina |
74 | Integrated Development Initiative | Brcko District | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
75 | Association New Security Initiative | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
76 | Centre for Security Studies | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
77 | CPCD | Donji Vakuf | Bosnia and Herzegowina |
78 | Mladiinfo Internacional | Skopje | North Macedonia |
79 | Partners Albania for Change and Development | Tirana | Albania |
80 | ILGA-Europe | Brussels | Belgium |
81 | Association for nature and environment protection EKOPRO | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
82 | Centar za ekologiju, obrazovanje i ofrživi razvoj CEKOOR | Sarajevo | Bosna i Hercegovina |
83 | Resource Environmental Center | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
84 | Finnish Development NGOs Fingo | Helsinki | Finland |
85 | Foreign Policy Initiative BH | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
86 | ODRAZ-Održivi razvoj zajednice | Zagreb | Croatia |
87 | Centar za promociju civilnog društva | Sarajevo | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
88 | Gong | Zagreb | Croatia |
89 | Youth Initiative for Human Rights | Belgrade | Serbia |
90 | ePaństwo Foundation | Warsaw | Poland |
91 | ASTRA-Ankti trafficking action | Belgrade | Serbia |
92 | Center for civil liberties-CEGAS | Podgorica | Montenegro |
93 | Institute for Territorial Economic Development - InTER | Belgrade | Serbia |
94 | Human Rights House Zagreb | Zagreb | Croatia |
95 | Netherlands Helsinki Committee | The Hague | Netherlands |
96 | Pro NEN (nevladina organizacija za razvoj elektronskih medija i njegovanje kulture komunikacije) | Podgorica | Montenegro |
97 | International and Security Affairs Centre - ISAC | Belgrade | Serbia |
98 | Helsinki Committee for Human Rights | Skopje | Republic of North Macedonia |
99 | Politikon Network | Podgorica | Montenegro |
100 | Documenta - Centar za suočavanje s prošlošću | Zagreb | Croatia |
101 | European Movement in Serbia | Belgrade | Serbia |
102 | Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights Osijek | Osijek | Croatia |
103 | Civil Rights Defenders | Stockholm | Sweden |
104 | Belgrade Centre for Security Policy | Belgrade | Serbia |
105 | CROSOL - Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity | Zagreb | Croatia |