Related to one year expose of Serbian Prime Minister, Mr. Mirko Cvetkovic, seven organizations of civil society, among them Center for Independent Living Serbia as contact organization for PWDs, send a letter to Prime Minister on 8 of July, reminding him on obligation of establishing the mechanisms of cooperation between state and civil society.
To Serbian Prime Minister, Mr. Mirko Cvetkovic
Belgrade, 8 July 2009 Subject: Institutional frame for cooperation between state and NGO sector
Dear Mr. Cvetkovic,
It was a year ago that you stated that “providing the relevant mechanism of cooperation between state and civil society will have a proper place within building the state of law“, as well as „it will represent one of the priorities in future work of Serbian Government“.
According to that, there are expectations at civil society organizations that will be improvement in cooperation between state and civil sector as well as forming the body on state level which will manage that cooperation. Although that there are different types of communication and cooperation between Serbian Government and organizations of civil society, still there is no institutional frame that will provide systemic dialogue between these two important actors in one democratic society.
Having this in mine we would like ask you to inform us in which phase is realization concrete document which will enable this cooperation in institutional way and measures that will Serbian Government take to provide formal delivery of State on establishing Office for cooperation with civil society and providing relevant resources from Serbia Budget for 2010. for its functioning. Serbia is the only country in West Balkan which has no institution, responsible for cooperation between Government and civil society.
The lack of this institution is opposite to Serbian responsibilities on maintaining liaison between state and civil society in European integration process. We expect that responsible Government will recognize the importance of this body as that is the way to maximize absorbent capacity related to IPA funds, which will be extremely helpful in terms of global economic crisis.
As you probably know, Coalition of seven Contact organization of civil society sent official suggestion to Serbian Government on 27 March 2008 to start the process of institutionalized cooperation with civil sector. Based on this initiative and wide consultations and consensus between all interested parties, Cabinet of Vice president of Serbian Government for European integration (Team for implementation Poverty Reduction Strategy), Ministry for State Management and Local Self-management and Office for European Integration, prepared suggestion for establishing Office for cooperation with civil society.
Cooperation between Serbian Government and civil society could be based on accepting the common values of modern democracy, on values based on international documents and recommendations UN, Council of Europe and EU and values of civil initiatives towards creation of efficient and fruitful mechanisms two way communication that will improve future relationships between Government and civil society, Having in mind your current engagement and readiness to support establishing the Office, we would like to ask you for organizing one consultative meeting with representatives of civil society as soon as possible, also inviting representatives of Cabinet of Vice president of Serbia Government for European Integrations.
Respecting your time we remain yours,
Contact organizations of civil society:
Autonomous women centre
Power of friendship – Amity
Center for Independent Living Serbia
Society for protection and improvement the mental health of children and youth
Group 484
Roma informative Center
Civil initiative