Beschreibung

"Patchy and unsystematic reforms in the six Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) show the limited impact of the European Union (EU) in its efforts to promote transformation beyond its borders and without offering an accession perspective. The fact that the political elites oppose reforms and prefer the status quo is one reason for this state of affairs. At the same time it reveals the EU's (almost) exclusive focus on political authorities as a major deficiency. Are there alternative actors that are able to bring about political change and thus become reform partners for the EU in the pursuit of policy change? The paper argues that the EU should turn its attentions towards civil society as a potential change agent in the transformation process. It calls on the EU to develop a comprehensive strategy of partnership with civil society by combining two complementary approaches: In the short-term, the EU needs to reinforce existing civil society initiatives that advocate political reforms in a more systematical way. In the long-term, it should strive to enlarge the circle of potential reform partners with the aim of creating a critical mass of actors able to push for reforms. In this regard, the EU should develop an array of capactiy-building measures that are targeted at specific support needs, reform its consultation framework, support a more favorable regulatory environment for civil society organizations, and cooperate with broader segments of civil society such as trade unions and business associations. The EU and Civil Society in Eastern Europe: Partners in the Pursuit of Policy Change?" (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))