The European Movement International and the Slovenian Council of the European Movement organized, with the support of the European Commission, the Municipality of Ljubljana, the National Assembly and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, an international congress “Civil Society Organisations Challenge Public Authorities” that took place in Ljubljana from April 16 to 18, 2009.
The focus of this high ranked international event were the countries of South-Eastern Europe. Its objective was to draw up proposals on how to improve cooperation between the civil society and the local, national, and European authorities. The event represents part of the efforts to bolster the role of Western Balkans civil society organisations in the process of their countries’ accession to the European Union.
In addition to representatives of civil society organisations, the participants of Ljubljana Congress included senior representatives of the governments and parliaments from the region. The Ljubljana Congress was attended by senior representatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Turkey, as well as by Dr. Pavel Gantar, President of Slovenian National Assembly, Mr Borut Pahor, President of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and Mr Pat Cox, President of the European Movement International.
The Congress commenced on April 16 with a ceremony at the Ljubljana Castle organised by the Municipality of Ljubljana, and continued on Friday, April 17, at the Ljubljana Convention and Exhibition centre, where representatives of civil society organisations collaborated in seven working groups with a clear objective – to draw up the concluding document. The declaration “Civil Society and Politics: Turning the Challenge into Opportunity” was then presented to the public authority representatives from the region on Saturday, April 18, 2009,
at the closing debate in the Slovenian National Assembly.
For the concluding document of the Ljubljana Congress, please click here
For the extensive picture gallery of the Ljubljana Congress, please click here