Although developing a strong and active civil society was not part of the official (democratic) criteria for accession, at various occasions the European Union pointed to the democratic value of the third sector and indicated its preference for the development of a vigorous civil society before the CEECs joined the Union. While CSO providers of social and educational services have quickly found a relatively good domestic support, civic organizations and watchdogs have been struggling without much financial support of the foreign donors. The roundtable discusses whether existing EU and national policies and programmes are well adapted to allow for the survival and development of civic organizations. It focuses on identifying ways to strengthen the support for civic organizations and watchdogs through joint advocacy initiatives.

Speakers:

Ewa Kulik-Bielinska, Director of Stefan Batory Foundation and Chair of the European Foundation Centre (PL)

A member of the Solidarity movement in the 1980’s, Ewa Kulik-Bielinska has been leading the Stefan Batory Foundation since 2010. The foundation works for the strengthening of Polish democracy, its civic institutions and for developing international cooperation and solidarity, while also supporting a varied number of grant making programs. 

Goran Forbici, President of the European Network of National Civil Society Associations (SI)

Goran Forbici is Director of the Centre for Information Service, Co-operation and Development of NGOs (CNVOS), the Slovenian umbrella body of civil society organisations. He has been for many years actively involved in the development of supportive environments for NGOs in Slovenia, Western Balkans and EU. He is also President of the European Network of National Civil Society Associations (ENNA) that brings together 23 national umbrella bodies, platforms and resource centers representing and advocating cross-sectoral interests of NGOs in 18 EU member states, Norway and Turkey.

Luben Panov, Program Director of the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-profit Law (BG)

Luben Panov is Program Director of the Bulgarian Center for Not-for-Profit Law (BCNL) since 2009 and has served as the organization’s director since its founding in 2001. BCNL is an organization working for improving the legal framework for NGOs in Bulgaria and providing assistance to NGOs. He has worked on issues such as registration and operation of NGOs, taxation and fiscal framework for civil society, tax incentives for donations, social contracting.

Moderator:

Valentin Burada, Program Director of the Civil Society Development Foundation (RO)

Valentin Burada is program director at Civil Society Development Foundation since October 2008. He is interested in civil society and democracy in the Black Sea region. Valentin Burada was the Project Coordinator for the Civil Society Development Foundation between October 2005 and October 2008. He received his BA in political science in 2002 at the University of Bucharest and his MA in political science in 2003 at Università degli Studi di Padova. He also received an MA in International Relations and European Studies in 2004 at the University of Bucharest. Valentin is a 2009 Fellow.