OSCE Kosovo Mission Head welcomes adoption of Assembly declaration on co-operation with civil society, pledges to support implementation

The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger, commended the Assembly of Kosovo for adopting a declaration at its last plenary session held on 3 April 2014 on establishing a partnership with civil society.

“The Assembly’s decision is of crucial importance for the further democratic development in Kosovo,” said Schlumberger.

“The implementation of the declaration will lead to greater inclusion of NGOs in the law-making and government oversight and will increase accountability of both the legislative and the executive branches of the government.”

The declaration foresees the development of consultations with civil society and joint projects to boost public participation in the work of the Assembly, legislative reforms to regulate the status of volunteers in civil society organizations and to ease funding, as well as the organization of an annual Assembly-civil society conference to set development priorities for Kosovo. 

OSCE supported the drafting of the declaration through a consultative process with Assembly members and over 70 NGOs. Schlumberger pledged to support concrete actions aimed at its implementation, starting with the creation of a permanent Assembly-civil society working group.  

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human and community rights promotion, democratization and the public safety sector development.