EU TACSO 3 project has been mandated by the DG NEAR to facilitate the preparation of the EU Civil Society Guidelines for the period 2021-2027.
The first step was a preliminary discussion on the effects and lessons-learned from the current Guidelines result framework during the Western Balkans and Turkey Regional Civil Society Forum held in Skopje on 21-23 January 2020. During the Forum, the participants agreed that the Guidelines for the period 2021-2027 can be built on the current framework. The main focus of the review is to make clearer the linkage between the Guidelines and, on the one hand, the existing EU acquis and standards in the area of civil space, rule of law and public consultation as well as EU accession process framework and assistance (IPA 3), and, on the other hand, the national strategic frameworks and measures in the area of civil society development and dialogue. While internal consultations are ongoing at the Commission level, EU TACSO 3 is inviting CSOs and other interested stakeholder to share written inputs on the first draft of the Guidelines result framework and any of their underlining aspects mentioned in the review . ∗
The first draft Guidelines result framework is available here.
Additionally, any input on how to strengthen the linkage in the following areas is welcomed:
- existing European standards in the area of civil space, rule of law and public consultation;
- EU accession process framework and assistance (EU Acquis, IPA 3, negotiation frameworks etc.);
- national strategic framework and measures in the area of civil society development and dialogue.
We encourage CSOs and other stakeholders to have their say by:
- Providing specific feedback through the questionnaire available at this link or
- Providing general input sent to our project at welcome@tacso.eu with the subject line stating: Input to EU CS Guidelines, 2021-2027 by 11 January, 2021.
Learn more on what are the Guidelines and the process of monitoring and revision done so far.
[*] The focus of the review targets: Need to consider new developments in the enabling environment – deteriorations of the fundamental freedoms; Inclusion of new emerging issues, i.e. privacy, digitalization, terrorism measures; Prioritization or separation of approaches per areas in the Guidelines; Introduction of new quality indicators; Definition of grass-root organizations; Avoid measuring (only) perceptions, esp. in area of CSO capacities; Include the local level, where possible; Involvement of governments in the revision and implementation; Inclusive revision process.