Council for Cooperation between Government and CSOs in Montenegro

Skopje, 04.07.2012.

Council for Cooperation between Government and CSOs

Strategy for cooperation between Montenegrin Government and CSOs and Action plan: 2009-2011. Decision on the establishment of the Council for Cooperation between Montenegrin Government and CSOs, April, 15th, 2010.( mission, structure, the procedure of members appointment...)

Tasks of the Council

to monitor the realization of the Strategy for cooperation between Government and CSOs to stimulate cooperation between Governemnt and CSOs give opinions on public policies drafts that influence funsctioning of CSOs in the country initiate shaping of new public policies important for functioning of CSOs consider annual reports of cooperation between state bodies and CSOs prepare annual report of its work

Structure of the Council:

President and 24 members 11 representatives of the ministries, Head of the Office for cooperation between Government and CSOs 12 representatives of CSOs Deputy President of the Council from CSOs

Representatives of the Government

President of the Council Head of the Office for Cooperation between Government and CSOs Ministry for Human and Minority Rights Ministry of Justice Ministry of interior affairs Ministry of foreign affairs and EU integration Ministry of culture Ministry of labour and social care Ministry of health Ministry of science Ministry of agriculture and rural development Ministry of sustainable development and tourism

CSO Representatives:

Protection and promotion of human rights Rule of law Democratization Protection of disable persons Youth and protection of children Gender equality and protection of women rights Education and lifelong learning Environmental protection Culture and informing Eurpean and Euro-Atlantic integration Agriculture and rural development Health and social protection

The appointment procedure

Government representatives are appointed by the proposal of the relevant Minister CSO representatives are appointed by the proposal of relevant CSOs

The procedure of CSO representatives appointment

Public announcement 1 representative per organization 1 proposal per organization Criteria for candidates Criteria for CSOs who propose A Council member is the candidate with a highest support from CSOs in relevant fields (11)

The establishment of the Council

The first session on January, 25th, 2011. Already 8 sessions the most important acts: Law on CSOs: Decree on cooperation between state bodies and CSOs Decree on conducting public discussion Regulation on the procedure for allocation of funds from the proceeds from games of chance Reports of the cooperation between state bodies and CSOs Initiatives: Decree of the establishment of the Council for protection of discrimination : public funding issues

CSO participation in EU negotiations process

Decree on the establishment of working groups for preparations of negotiations on the accession of Montenegro to the European Union 6 CSO representatives in 2 working groups for chapters 23 and 24

Experience so far:

Explanatory and bilateral screening How to balance independency in the working group as CSO representatives?