Functioning and role of the future EU-Serbia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)

1. Functioning and role of the futureEU-Serbia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) Ionut Sibian Rapporteur on Serbia President of the Western Balkans Follow Up Committee Belgrade, April 4th 2014

2. Future EU-Serbia JCC • Based on the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the establishment of the JCC should accompany the accession process from the perspective of civil society in Serbia and the EU (EESC).

3. Role of the JCC  • To propose recommendationsto the relevant political authorities on both sides, the Government of Serbia, the EU-Serbia Stabilization and Association Council, the Council of the EU, the European Commission and the European Parliament • To promote dialogue and cooperation between the economic and social interest groups of the EU and Serbia on all economic and social aspects of the country's accession process to the EU  • To enable the candidate country´s JCC representatives to become acquainted with the process of consultation taking place within the European Union and more generally with the dialogue between social partners in the EU

4. Role of the JCC • To enable the EU representatives to familiarize themselves with the social structures and the economic and social impact of the reforms in the candidate country  • To promote the involvement of the economic and social actors in the candidate country in the implementation of the EU Acquis • To provide economic and social interest groups in the candidate country with relevant information on developments in accession negotiations and on institutions and professional organisations of the EU  

5. Role of the JCC • foster public debate and awareness in the candidate country about membership in the EU • facilitate the process of capacity- and institution-building and the consolidation of civil society organisations in the candidate country in various ways, e.g. through informal networking, visits and other activities 

6. Support for the Serbian JCC members • Prepare and support the Serbian JCC members on their potential future involvement within the EESC. • Often JCC members are appointed as members of the EESC once the candidate country joins the EU. • The EESC assesses important EU-legislative proposals and regularly records its own initiative opinions.

7. Composition of the EU-Serbia Civil Society JCC • It consists of 18 members, 9 members from the Serbian civil society and 9 from the EESC. • On each side: • 3 representatives of employers' organisations, chambers of commerce • 3 from the trade unions, chambers of labor • 3 from the NGOs • + observers (Permanent observers, not exceeding four for each side , may be appointed by each EESC and Serbia) • The JCC is set-up for the whole duration of the accession negotiations.

8. Appointment of the JCC members 9 EESC memberswere appointed by the EESC Bureau/Plenary session in February 2014. They were nominated by the 3 Groups of the EESC, which consist of representatives of organisationsof • employers, • employees and • CSOs

9. EESC apointed members in JCC

10. Appointment of the JCC members • The EESC is interested in a broadly based representation of interests which is as wide as possible, so that the interests can be introduced fully by a candidate country and also wide information and proposed solutions can be disseminated in the broad national civil society. • The 9 Serbian members will be officially appointed by the Serbian Government. We call on the selection procedure to be transparent and inclusive.

11. How does the JCC work • Mandate of members lasts for 2,5 years, with possible renewal. • JCC is co-chaired by a Serbian and an EESC member. Each side elects its Co-Chair. • Rules of procedure of the JCC will be adopted at the 1st meeting. • JCC meets twice year, once in the candidate country and once in the EU. It lasts a day with an informal meeting the night before. • JCC will develop a multi-year program of work on its own.

12. Issues of the meetings • Focused on the ongoing accession negotiations(progress reports by the European Commission)and on the individual negotiating chapters. • Other important accession-related issuesand problems of civil societye.g. Social or Civil Dialogue, use of pre-accession aid (IPA) or the future use of European Social Fund (ESF) resources, strengthening the role of civil society in the accession process a.o. • 1 or 2 main topics are selected by the Co-Chairs for each JCC meeting.

13. Other participants  At the meeting in the candidate countryparticipate: • Foreign Ministry, • EU Integration Ministry, • Labor and Social Ministry and • coordinating body for NGOs • EU mission, • responsible Serbian authorities, • permanent observers from the European Economic Area (EEA) • speakers and guests. • civil society organisations will be invited to attend as observers

14. Results and effects of JCC meetings • Results and suggestions of JCC meetings are summarized in a joint statement and transmitted to the relevant Serbian authorities and EU institutions. • Media are kept informed and press conferences are organized during those meetings. • Responsible EU institutions take on board important suggestions, • Competent institutions of the candidate country pay attentionto the discussions and the proposals of the JCC and take them into account.

15. Thank you very much for your attention!