The EU Delegation to Serbia has launched a new call for proposals for civil society organisations. The EU-funded call for proposals is worth €4.8 million and aims at empowering civil society in Serbia to actively participate in decision making by further stimulating an enabling an environment for civil society, thus strengthening Serbia’s EU integration process.

Specifically, this call will further strengthen the overall capacity of civil society via an EU National Resource Centre. It will also increase the capacities of grassroot and informal groups for advocacy and monitoring of reforms and Serbia’s EU integration process through flexible financial support to developing CSOs and informal groups. It will put focus on strengthening under-developed civil society in specific sectors and assisting the transformation of informal groups into organised CSOs.

Emanuele Giaufret, EU Ambassador to Serbia, said: “Democracy is stronger when civil society is strong and able to strengthen transparency and accountability of public authorities, and promotes active engagement of the citizens within their communities for inclusive and participatory processes. I am very proud the EU will continue to support Serbian civil society and contribute to making it more effective and sustainable. An empowered civil society is a crucial component of any democratic system and should be recognised and treated as such by all stakeholders, including state institutions.”

Following a steady increase in the longer-term, the annual EU contribution will reach €5.5 million amounting to a total EU contribution to civil society in Serbia of €17 million over a three-year period. This assistance will be provided through a mix of funding modalities to respond to the specific needs of different types of CSOs in terms of size, levels of capacity and geographic presence.

There will be continued outreach to smaller organisations, in particular through financial support to developing CSOs and third parties and flexible support mechanisms.