Belgrade Open School implemented the project "Civil Society as a Force for Change in Serbia’s EU Accession Process" (CS4EU), in the past three years, from 2016 to 2019. During this period, 35 civil society and media organizations were supported and 49 projects were implemented. Through our activities, we were able to significantly contribute to the European integration process and democratic development of Serbia, by strengthening the role of civil society while constantly encouraging citizen involvement in decision-making processes and upholding the principles of the rule of law and human and minority rights.

And in order to be able to continue to implement this example of good practice, Sweden has decided to support Belgrade Open School for the second phase of this project, over the next two years.

In the second phase of the project, civil society and media continue to be recognized as drivers of change and key players in democratic development in Serbia. They are able to bring the European integration process closer to the citizens, to explain the importance of social changes and contribute to citizen involvement in decision-making processes, and therefore continue to be key beneficiaries of the CS4EU program.

The fourth year of the CS4EU programme began with the initial workshop, held from 22-24. December in Sabac, for the new 11 programme partners. Their areas of interest and supported projects under the CS4EU programme can be divided into three clusters:

1) Rule of law, human rights, transparency, and good governance;

2) Freedom of media and reporting about the EU;

2) Youth policy and improving the position of youth.

You can view the list of new programme partners by clicking on this LINK. At the workshop, the partners had the opportunity to get to know each other, as well as the newly set goals of the CS4EU programme.

Specific objectives of the CS4EU program are:

• To enhance the role of civil society in improving policy framework within the decision-making processes by representing communities’ interests.
• To increase quality of information related to EU accession process and democratic reforms in Serbia.
• To establish and improve the connections between civil society organizations and private sector within their joint participation in the EU accession process and development framework.

The third objective presents  a new component of the CS4EU programme which aims to bridge the gap between civil society organizations and the business sector in order to advance understanding of the role of the two sectors in Serbia's EU accession process and to establish mutual cooperation, which would contribute to Serbia's EU accession process overall.

The participants at the initial workshop were also presented with the desk research conducted by Belgrade Open School - "The role of the civil and business sector in Serbia's EU accession process and opportunities for cooperation".

Photos from the workshop can be viewed here.