Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.
Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum trusted by EU and partner countries
The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) is trusted by political leaders from the EaP countries and the EU, and will continue enjoying the support of the EU and its member states.
This was one of the key messages that came out of the fifth annual meeting of the Forum last week, held under the title Together for a European Future. The eventbrought together over 250 representatives of civil society organisations from partner countries and the EU, as well as senior government officials, diplomats and representatives of the donor community.
In his opening remarks, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle said the Eastern Partnership summit in November should be a summit of delivery. At the forum, the Commissioner was awarded a special certificate "in recognition of the support given to the civil society" in the Eastern Partnership countries, a press release from the CSF said.
Mikayel Hovhannisyan from the Eurasia Partnership Foundation in Armenia said civil society in his country stands for the highest possible level of integration with the EU.
Leila Alieva from the Centre for National and International Studies, Azerbaijan, pointed to a highly polarised society in her country and urged the EU “to strike a right balance between promoting values and pursuing its energy security policy.”
Andrej Yahorau, representing the Belarusan Centre for European Transformation, spoke in favour of promoting reforms in his country rather that “superficial monitoring” of the reforms.
A representative of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies Kakha Gogolashvili said civil society should be operating in the space between the government and the public, working actively with both.
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The EU’s Benign Neglect of Eastern Europe
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New ENP and Civil Society’s Role in Focus of the 7th EaP CSF Annual Assembly (Photo)
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Is social economy a phenomenon for Belarus?
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