In the process of building stronger societies, the cooperation between local authorities and local activism is indispensable. Citizens’ participation, especially the younger ones, in local-level decision-making processes is crucial for building strong community life and ownership of local strategies. Societal issues need also to receive more attention in both local and central political debates to offer citizens confidence in better opportunities for their future. Local authorities may be facing challenges like: lack of expertise, not enough skills or experience as well as not sufficient financial means, to be able to animate that process of local communities’ development. At the same time, local civic initiatives are often not recognised widely enough, and non-governmental organisations active in small communities may have an impression that they are not sufficiently supported by local authorities. 

Objectives of the session

• Explore the conclusions of CSF Policy Brief – Civil Society and Youth Engagement in the Western Balkans
• Explore the role of local authorities animating the development of local communities and inviting participants from various backgrounds to co-create local development
• Explore how local communities shall plan/implement their policies to enable and encourage youth activism in particular – is the lack of finance their only challenge?
• Discuss potential development of third sector’s performance – from policy-making to policy implementation – where community oriented initiatives (educational, artistic, business-oriented) are involving regular citizens
• Explore the potential of closer cooperation between CSOs/ NGOs/ think-tanks – not only leaning from each other but more sharing tasks and duties when achieving common goals

Panelists

H.E. Ekaterina Zacharieva – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bulgaria

H.E. Jerzy Kwiecinski – Minister for Investments and Development, Poland

Đuro Blanuša – Secretary General, RYCO

Simonida Kačarska, PhD – European Policy Institute

Simonida is the director of the European Policy Institute, a think tank in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. Her research interests are related to the political transformation and European integration of the Balkans. In addition to holding research positions at several universities across Europe, Simonida was also a lecturer at her alma mater the American University in Bulgaria, and a civil servant in the European integration office of the Macedonian government. She is a regular contributor to national and regional media and consults international organisations.

Mirela Rajković –South East European Network Organisation

Mirela is an expert in SEEYN that calls itself as a network organization brave enough to inspire everyone walk her/his dreams. SEEYN is gathering organizations that involve and engage people, who truly care about the stability of Western Balkans region. After the war in 90s ended, people who are now in SEEYN, then initiated social reconstruction all over destroyed region and worked hard to support young people to grow up to become responsible, active, socially aware citizens who value solidarity.  

Miron Lukač – MOZAIK Foundation

Miron is part of Mozaik Foundation, a leading impact investor in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. He hold a position of manager of Lonac Hubs, a network of coworking spaces focused on development of social entrepreneurship and he supports social businesses in Mozaik Impact Incubator through mentoring.

Colin Wolfe – Head of Unit, DG NEAR

Colin Wolfe was appointed Head of Western Balkans Regional Cooperation in the Directorate General for Neighbourhood & Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission, in January 2017. He is responsible for the Regional Cooperation policy approach, as well as supporting multi-country assistance programmes.

Previously, Colin held several posts in the Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy. In particular, he was Head of the Competence Centre Smart & Sustainable Growth. He was also responsible for regional cooperation, including the development of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, and the full range of INTERREG programmes in the EU-28. He also worked to set up and implement the EU PEACE Programme in Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Prior to his different responsibilities for regional cooperation, Colin worked in the Budget and Employment services of the Commission. He also spent considerable time with Directorate General Enlargement, negotiating the accession of Hungary and Malta.

In 2001, he became Head of Unit in EuropeAid, covering institution-building in the Western Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia. In 2003 he moved to Head of Unit for Czech Republic & Slovakia in the Regional Policy service to oversee their accession. He is a graduate in natural sciences of the University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland and holds a post-graduate degree in geography from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Moderator: Eva Ellereit

Eva Ellereit heads the office of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Skopje, a German Think Tank with 106 offices worldwide. Previously, she worked for FES in Berlin on digitisation and gender equality, later in Bonn for the state office of North Rhine-Westphalia and in the FES office in Kosovo. She studied political science in Berlin and Bologna.

Time frame and format: Moderated 60-75 minutes panel discussion with 15-45 minutes Q&A.

Language: English

Where? When? GREEN room, Civil Society Forum, July 4th 10.00 – 12.00