Civil Society’s Role in Supporting Reform under the Growth Plans for the Western Balkans and Moldova, as well as in Ukraine’s Reform Path

Key points

This opinion was selected for the Enlargement Candidate Members' (ECMs) initiative. 

The EESC:

• stresses that all three facilities for the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova must actively practice civil society engagement as a structural governance condition that underpins the sustainability of the enlargement process;
• highlights that civil society ownership of the three facilities-supported reforms should consist of a permanent, active, structured and formally institutionalised role for social partners and civil society organisations, alongside national authorities;
• emphasises that funding should actively contribute to preparing countries for EU membership in line with the European social and economic model, and not be limited to supporting integration into the Single Market;
• stresses that deadlines should not undermine democratic procedures, public debate, mandatory consultation or dialogue with social partners and civil society organisations, nor be used as justification for emergency legislative shortcuts that exclude social partners and civil society organisations;
• points out that the Governments should establish a structured framework for social dialogue ensuring the involvement of nationally representative, with an appropriate number of members, organisations of employers, workers and civil society organisations, while respecting the specific role and autonomy of social partners;
• recommends clear, public European Commission's guidance on assessing the full and partial attainment of Reform Agendas' implementation indicators, including verification standards, and reversals of the conditions previously fulfilled;
• recommends ensuring tailored sustainable and predictable financial support for civil society organisations and social partners through multi-annual and transparent funding mechanisms;
• invites the European Commission to draw on mid-term assessments of current Facilities’ governance and implementation frameworks and further improve the implementation of current and future relevant EU performance-based Enlargement instruments.