EaP CSF Newsletter August 2021


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Dear Reader ,

We hope you had a relaxing summer break and a fresh start back at work. As we are settling into our working routines again, we have several updates to share with you. The Steering Committee of the EaP CSF is deeply concerned by the Agreement on Cooperation between the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus and the State Security Service, signed in 2016, which entered into force on 1 August 2021.

Furthermore, the Steering Committee of the EaP CSF condemns in the strongest possible terms the relentless and despicable assaults on civil society activists conducted by Belarusian authorities today and every day since 11 August 2020.

We also remind you that you can still submit project proposals under the EaP CSF Re-granting to Members (FSTP) programme Lot 1 and Lot 2 for 2021-2023 here.

Lastly, the EaP CSF Secretariat regrets to announce the departure of Natalia Yerashevich, Director of the EaP CSF Secretariat, from her position effective as of 2 October 2021.

Yours,

EaP CSF Secretariat

News from EaP CSF

Submit your proposals for Lot 1 - Monitoring EaP targets, deliverables and related reforms (deadline: 12 September 2021, 23:59 CET)

The thematic priority under Lot 1 is regular and complex monitoring of the implementation of the EaP targets and deliverables as outlined in the Joint Staff Working Document (JSWD) and related reforms from the civil society perspective across the 6 EaP countries. Learn more here.

Submit your proposals for Lot 2 - Addressing Eap CSF's strategic and advocacy priorities (deadline: 12 September 2021, 23:59 CET)

The objective of Lot 2 is to ensure that the development and implementation of the Forum’s strategic and advocacy priorities is driven by its members, in alliance with the EaP CSF Steering Committee and the EaP CSF Secretariat. The actions aim to increase awareness and the prominence of the EaP region. The thematic priorities are resilient civil society, cohesion and differentiation, reconciliation and confidence building, and the green agenda. Find more here.

On the departure of Natalia Yerashevich from the position of Director of the EaP CSF Secretariat

It is with both sadness and gratitude that we announce the departure of Natalia Yerashevich as Director of the EaP CSF Steering Committee Secretariat. This change is effective as of 2 October 2021. Appointed as Director of the EaP CSF Secretariat in 2012, Natalia has built up the then new Forum's body from scratch and shaped it into a fully-fledged professional organ. We are truly grateful to Natalia for her hard work and contribution to the Forum over the last 8 years and wish her all the best in the future.

EaP CSF Advocacy

EaP CSF Steering Committee statement on the Georgian-Belarusian security cooperation agreement

The EaP CSF Steering Committee urges the Government of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia to publicly terminate or freeze the Agreement on Cooperation between the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus, which entered into force on 1 August 2021. Moreover, the EaP CSF Steering Committee calls on EU institutions and member states to raise the issue of termination of the Agreement with the Georgian government. Read the full text here.

EaP CSF Steering Committee statement on the recent arrests of Ulad Vialichka, Uladzimir Matskevich, Tatsiana Vadalazhskaya, and Oksana Shelest

As part of the recent assaults on civil society activists in Belarus, four members of EuroBelarus - Ulad Vialichka, Uladzimir Matskevich, Tatsiana Vadalazhskaya and Oksana Shelest, have been arrested. The Steering Committee of the EaP CSF condemns the unprecedented attacks on civil society activists and demands the immediate release of all unlawfully detained people. While three members have been released in the meantime, Uladzimir Matskevich remains in detention. Read the full statement here and sign our petition calling for his release.

Statement of the Georgian National Platform on the Decision of the Ruling Party to Cancel the April 19 Agreement

The Georgian National Platform of the EaP CSF expresses indignation at the decision taken by the ruling party to cancel the April 19 agreement and calls on all parties to acknowledge their political responsibility and urge the ruling party to rejoin the political document. The agreement is essential for the democratic development of Georgia and for overcoming the political crisis and polarization. Read the full text here.

Update on the Endorsement statement for the “Joint letter of civil society representatives to the leaders of the European Union on vaccine needs of the EU’s Neighbourhood”

In June 2021, the Steering Committee of the EaP CSF joined to support the second joint letter on COVID-19 vaccination in the Eastern Partnership region. As a response to the letter, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, replied to it. While the EU’s efforts to support vaccination in partner countries are gaining momentum, we are still missing concrete information about the distribution of the 100 million doses which have been pledged to low and middle income countries. Read the full update here.

Opportunities

EU4Gender Equality launched a call for proposals for CSOs in Eastern Partner countries (deadline: 8 September 2021)

EU4Gender Equality is looking for civil society organisations (CSOs) from all six EaP countries that promote gender equality, women’s empowerment, prevention and combating gender-based violence. The budget for the proposed actions will have to fall between $15,000 and $80,000. Read more here.

Call for CSOs and media led by national minorities reforms in Georgia (deadline: 12 September 2021)

People in Need, a non-governmental organisation, which advocates for and facilitates locally-led development and promotes human rights, is launching a call for partnership for media and civil society organisations in Georgia led by national minorities. The call is part of the EU-funded ‘EU COVID-19 Solidarity Programme for the Eastern Partnership 2020-2022’. Learn more here.

Apply to Civil Match Forum “Unmute & Recall” (deadline: 15 September 2021)

Civil Match Forum(22 - 26 September) is a matchmaking event that aims at helping civil society activists from all EaP countries and France, Germany and Poland to find partners for effective cross-border cooperation. This year's Forum is devoted to the topics of memory and reflection. Find more here.

Call for Applications: Enhancing civic movements in Eastern Partnership (deadline: 5 October 2021)

If you are an activist from one of the Eastern Partnership countries, apply to the “Community Action Training'' Programme. The blended educational programme will take place both online and in Tbilisi, Georgia. This call is open for activists engaged in on-going campaigns led by grassroots organizations, civic initiative groups and activism movements. Find more information here.

Guidelines for the EU: Modelling a resilience-building mechanism for Moldova and the “Association Trio”

The current policy brief presents a set of guidelines that can facilitate the injection of the resilience logic into the actions of the EU towards Moldova. The guidelines described in this policy brief can be replicated in other countries from the region, where the EU is willing and has the capacities to promote resilience. Read the full paper here.

This newsletter is produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Eastern Partnership Civil society Forum and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Rue de l'Industrie 10, Brussels
1000 Brussels, Belgium
info@eap-csf.eu

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