Workshop Visegrad for Strengthening Democracy in the Western Balkans: Poland’s Experience with Cooperation between Civil Society and Public Administration

Populari’s Policy Researcher Katarina Cvikl took part in the 1^st workshop within the framework “Thinking for Governance” project, organised under the name “Visegrad for Strengthening Democracy in the Western Balkans: Poland’s Experience with Cooperation between Civil Society and Public Administration” and held on 29 October 2013 in Warsaw, Poland.

The workshop was hosted by the Polish Institute of International Affairs and brought together three representatives of NGOs from each of the Western Balkan countries (excluding Croatia), and representatives from the Visegrad Group, as well as Polish public administration. Alongside Vaša prava(Legal Aid Network) and Centre for Security Studies, Populari is participating in this project as a representative of the BiH civil sector.

The project aims at improving the solutions to the judiciary, fundamental rights, freedom, justice and security problems (the areas covered by chapters 23 and 24 of the EU’s acquis communautaire) in the Western Balkan countries. It will do so by sharing both adopted administrative solutions and best practices of the Visegrad Group countries in terms of the cooperation of the NGO, CSOs and think thanks with public administration. During the first workshop titled “Poland’s Experience with Cooperation between Civil Society and Public Administration” the participants and invited guests discussed topics within three panels, touching upon the topics of civil society-government dialogue within the human rights, civil education and immigration sectors.

By participating in this project Populari will not only strengthen its presence and build opportunities for cooperation regionally and throughout Central Europe, but will also be able to draw valuable lessons to improve models of interaction with governmental institutions.

More details on the workshop can be downloaded below:

Agenda: Seminar: Visegrad for Strengthening Democracy in the Western Balkans: Poland’s Experience with Cooperation between Civil Society and Public Administration (.pdf) >>>