EESC Corner: Civil Society Forum of Eastern Partnership enters third year of existence

The involvement of civil society was seen as the main innovation in the new EU approach to its Eastern neighbours called Eastern Partnership (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) and the Civil Society Forum was set up to achieve it.

Entering its third year of existence, the CSF did not advance in this direction too much so far which should have been observed at the Poznan meeting at the end of November. The most awaited decisions on the new concept paper, legal registration and statute were deferred to the new steering committee elected by the Forum participants.

The Poznan meeting confirmed that general mood of support for the integration with the EU by the civil society in partner countries remains still strong in spite of recent set backs: Belarus participation in the Eastern Partnership frozen, Ukraine´s rapprochement with the EU losing its momentum and Mrs. Timoshenko´s case hindering the signature of the Association Agreement including the Deep and Comprehensive Trade Area. The CSF reached certain success in promoting good governance, fight against corruption, rule of law, freedom of media, environment and local government in partner countries.

Little interest was paid to the issues of economic integration crucial for general advancement of partner countries. Social and economic actors such as employers, business organizations, chambers of commerce, trade unions and economic think tanks are not adequately represented in the CSF and they should be more involved in discussion how to secure growth, increase competitiveness, enhance entrepreneurship and support the SMEs, how to speed up necessary economic reforms and how to face serious effects the implementation of DCFTA will have on their societies.

Increasing understanding of the need to cover more economic and social issues by the CSF was reflected by the approval to establish the social dialogue working group and increase the role of the European Economic and Social Committee in this field. The CSF expressed its wish to contribute to activities of the East Invest programme and of the Business Forum of the Eastern Partnership established at the end of October in Sopot but much work still remains to be done to enhance the role of the civil society in the decision making of economic policy in the partner countries.

Ivan Voleš
Member of EESC – Employers´ Group, and Member of Eastern Partnership WG for economic integration and convergence with EU acquis