Partners Albania Center for Change and Conflict Management QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
EDITION NO. 54
TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY
In this number: -Creating an Enabling Environment for civil society in Albania page 1-2 - Participatory budgeting in the municipalities of Vlora, Puka, Durresi and Lezha page2 Monitoring of the Enabling Environment for Civil Society Development - Monitoring Matrix Work Group Meeting, Skopje -Policy workshop “What is the Environment in which CSOs work, and what can the EC and Governments do to Improve it?”, Brussels page 3 -Consultative meetings with civil society on the territorial administrative reform page4 -THE ALBANIAN CROWD, an interactive platform for civil society organizations in Albania -Empowerment of School Governments in Librazhd page 5 -Development of Social Enterprises; Potential for Job Creation for Disadvanted Groups page 6 -Making Labor Market Work for Young People in Albania -Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Public Electronic Procurement at Local Level page 7 -Towards an Alternative Tourism page 8 -Joint Citizen Action for a Stronger, Citizen-Friendly Union -Enhance dialogue and interaction among citizens and European institutions toward social inclusion page 9 Participation in International Events -Roundtable on funding, independence and accountability of associations , OSCE, Warsaw page 10
APRIL - JUNE 2014
Creating an Enabling Environment for Civil Society in Albania Following the National Conference “Social Partners-Time for Action”, organized on 13 and 16 December 2013, Partners Albania has undertaken concrete steps on addressing the issues presented in the Statement of Civil Society Organizations, for which the government through the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Niko Peleshi, expressed its commitment. At the end of April, in a meeting organized with the Task Force for the Enabling Environment for Civil Society in Albania, it was decided to present a request for a meeting with the Prime Minister, to address again the issues raised in the December Conference, as well as to discuss with the prime Minister about the progress of the process so far. The meeting of representatives from the Task Force with the Prime Minister was organized on May 9, 2014. During the meeting the Prime Minister expressed once again his and the governments’ commitment and willingness to collaborate with civil society for creating an enabling environment and for addressing the issues raised at the Conference. In the meeting, the Prime Minister gave clear directives for his staff to follow the work for addressing each of the discussed issues. On the other hand, the Prime Minister asked the representatives of CSOs to prepare and present to his staff their concrete proposal related to the creation of the National Council for Civil Society, as an advisory and independent structure with representatives from both Government and CSOs. More concretely, the progress of the process for each of the issues discussed during the meeting with the Prime Minister is as follows: Charter for Civil Society There is a commitment from the government as well as from the parliament to present the Charter for Civil Society for approval within this parliamentary session which closes at the end of July. From the meetings with deputies and leading structures in the parliament was concluded that the Charter will be presented for approval in the parliament in the form of a resolution. Currently, the Charter is being adapted in the form of a resolution, and after its finalization PA will share the draft with the civil society sector for feedback. Prior its presentation for approval in the parliamentary session, the Charter will be discussed in a public hearing session, with a wide participation of civil society. The National Council for Civil Society In accordance to the recommendations of December Conference and with the EU agenda for civil society, the work for the establishment of the joint Council Government-Civil Society has progressed. After the meeting with the Prime Minister, the Task Force in collaboration with the Agency for the Support of Civil Society and the office of Prime Minister is working for the preparation of the draft for the establishment and functioning of the National Council for Civil Society. Once the draft is finalized from the actors involved in its preparation, PA will widely share it with the civil society sector for consultation. Fiscal framework of CSOs The Task Force has discussed with the Ministry of Finances regarding the clarification of the exclusion of grants from VAT scheme (through the new Law on VAT) and the separate reporting for the economic and non-economic activity of CSOs. Concrete recommendations about the above mentioned issues were sent to the Ministry, and it expected for them to be reflected in the final draft Law. PA will organize a wide consultation process with civil society to solicit opinions, suggestions and recommendations regarding the above mentioned issues, on which we will inform accordingly.
MEMBER OF PARTNERS FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE INTERNATIONAL
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