CSO Declaration on Zagreb EU – Western Balkans Summit

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!

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CSO Declaration on Zagreb EU – Western Balkans Summit 

With or Without (E)U

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

Sign the declaration:

Signatories:

#	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