The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) invites all interested parties to submit expressions of interest to participate in the 10th Annual Assembly of the Forum that will take place at the end of November or early December (place TBC). The submission of expressions of interest is a necessary step in the selection process to participate in the EaP CSF activities for a period of one year starting from the Annual Assembly at the end of 2018 and finishing up before the next Annual Assembly at the end of 2019.
The Annual Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum is the key event conducted on an annual basis since 2009. It is the highest decision making body in the EaP CSF and serves as a platform for debate on the achievements of the Forum and the EaP in general, as well as on civil society contribution to the reform process in the region. Every year the event brings together over 200 civil society representatives from the EaP region and the EU, as well as other stakeholders.
The EaP CSF functions as a platform of regional solidarity and advocacy actor that reacts to major developments in the EaP region by voicing its position and provides crucial, often alternative information for the decision-makers in the EU institutions, EU member states, regional and international organisations, and EaP governments. Being the institutionalised part of the society, the EaP CSF articulates the needs, expectations and perceptions of societies vis-à-vis the EaP national authorities and EU decision-makers.
In line with the new EaP CSF strategy 2018-2020, the revised architecture of the EaP Platforms and Panels, the Forum’s intention to use these fora more effectively and expectations from the EU institutions in this regard, the EaP CSF will be paying more attention to the expertise of the members that they can provide to the EaP Platforms and panels (link) at the stage of the application process.
The deadline for the applications is 15 May 2018, 23.59 Brussels time (CET).
IMPORTANT NOTICE
The European Union (EU) is the main donor of the event and it will be able to fund the travel and hotel accommodation during the Annual Assembly for the selected CSOs only. It will be possible for the EU to cover the travel and accommodation of up to 160 CSO representatives – around 120 from the EaP countries and a maximum of 40 from EU member states plus 20 observers. The EU’s criteria for funding is contribution of the applicants’ organisations to the advancement of the role of civil society in accountability, reforms and dialogue in the EaP countries.
