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Dear Reader ,

Christmas decorations are all around Brussels and markets are full of guests. Shortly before our winter holidays break, we have prepared for you a recap of our 11th Annual Assembly, which took place in Brussels earlier this month. Watch our event videos of Day 1 and Day 2, check out the audio-visual file of the Commissioner’s speech and the panel on the future of the Eastern Partnership, browse through the event gallery, and learn more about our recommendations for the future of the EaP. We hope you enjoy our extensive post-production of our yearly high-level event.

In December we have signed the financial partnership agreement with the European Commission for the duration of 4 years. Though the agreement does not stipulate any financial resources at this stage, it indicates the importance given to the work and expertise of the EaP CSF by the EC. The EaP CSF has been chosen to become the EC's strategic partner in strengthening the role of CSOs as governance actors, enhancing cooperation and coordination of CSO capacity building actions and initiatives and increasing the impact of capacity development actions across the EaP.

With this, we finish our Newsletter in 2019. The Secretariat of the EaP CSF is wishing you joyful celebrations and a good start into the New Year 2020.

Yours,

EaP CSF Secretariat
11th Annual Assembly Recap

The 11th Annual Assembly of the EaP CSF - "EaP4EU: Joining force for a win-win partnership", was held in Brussels on December 4-6, 2019, hosting over 300 civil society representatives from the EaP region and the EU as well as international stakeholders, key decision makers and journalists.
New Commissioner opening the Assembly

Olivér Várhelyi, the newly appointed Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, opened the conference, stressing the importance of empowering civil society and strengthening its role at all levels of policy making in order to support better democratic processes and resilience in the Eastern Partnership countries. You can listen to the Commissioner’s speech in the Commission’s audio-visual file.
High-level Panel on future of EaP

The high-level panel this year focused on the Future of the EaP: challenges ahead and enabling civil society. It featured State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Georgia – Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, Minister of Justice of Armenia – Rustam Badasyan, Director, Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional cooperation and OSCE, EEAS – Luc Devigne and the Director Neighbourhood East and Institution Building, DG NEAR, European Commission – Lawrence Meredith. You can listen to their discussions here.

More than 25 Brussels-based stakeholders, think-tankers and experts debated with EaP CSF representatives in a participatory world Cafe format the key ideas EaP CSF submitted to the structured consultation. See the full document here. 


New Statute of the Forum

The highest decision-making body of the EaP CSF adopted during the 11th Annual Assembly the new Statute of the Forum (EN, RU), which will allow the Forum to make a next step in implementation of its ambitious internal reform focusing on ethical standards, transparency and accountability.

Assembly Declaration

Additionally, the Forum’s Declaration was adopted with recommendations (EN, RU) aimed at the future of the EaP policy and preparations of the sixth Eastern Partnership Summit coming up in 2020.
Photo Gallery

Our photo gallery is available on Flickr. Additionally, this is how the event looked like through a camera lens on Day 1 and Day 2.
Opportunities
Reminder Call for Delegates

Seize your chance, become our Delegate! Every two years, EaP CSF launches a call for delegates representing organizations from the six EaP countries and European Member States. Throughout their mandate, selected delegates will attend yearly working group meetings and two annual assemblies, jointly advocate, and expand their network. Find out more about this here.

Reminder Call for Re-granting to WGs

Do you have good projects ideas and need support to implement them? The EaP CSF Re-granting scheme (Financial Support to third parties – FSTP) supports projects of civil society organisations from at least three EaP countries and the EU member states, which have a regional dimension and facilitate the work of one of the five thematic Working Groups of the Forum. The new Call for Proposals for 2020 is open now. Apply by January 31, 2020. 

Happy holidays!


The Secretariat of the EaP CSFs wishes you and your beloved ones wonderful winter days, felicitous festivities and numerous good returns for the New Year 2020.
Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Rue de l'Industrie 10, Brussels
Belgium 1040 Belgium

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Secretariat of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
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+32 2 893 25 85