On February 11, 2022, representatives of the Foundation Open Society – Macedonia met with the Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Mr Bojan Maricic, in order to improve the joint efforts for structural dialogue with civil society organizations in the EU integration process. The main focus of the meeting was to improve the participation of civil society organizations in the Sector Working Groups by reviewing their rules of procedure. Before the Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, we presented the Draft Model for selection and participation of civil society organizations in the Sectoral Working Groups, developed within the project “Dialogue with Civil Society Organizations – Platform for Structural Participation in EU Integration”. The adoption of the Draft Model and the amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the Sectoral Working Groups are part of the Government Strategy for Cooperation with and Development of Civil Society for 2022 – 2024.
The initial meeting with the new leadership of the Secretariat for European Affairs will be followed by the finalization of the Draft Model and then a presentation and consultation will be held with the Council for Cooperation and Development of Civil Society and Civil Society Organizations. The idea of the draft model is a predictable and clear procedure for selection and participation of civil society organizations in sectoral working groups; increased transparency of the overall work of the Sector Working Groups and improved opportunity for the substantial contribution of civil society organizations in the Sector Working Groups.
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15 February 2022