The Impact of EU Enlargement on the CEE Post Communist Societies

EU Civil Society Development Support in Bulgaria Lessons Learnt

EU Impact on Policy Development and Reforms

Uncompleted structural reforms in the policy fields of national competence in all CEE NMS: Education Health system Social protection systems and social inclusion, pensions.

Reasons
Lack of acquis communitaire in those policy areas Depend on the capacity and political will of national governments Party systems fragmentation and fragile coalition governments some of which in minority position with a short political lifetime Temptation to employ populism and nationalism

Impact
Deepen the marginalization of certain groups of society and increase the already huge regional development discrepancies Diminish the already low citizens trust in the political establishments and the institutions of representative democracy. Cause already fragile political systems to become increasingly vulnerable.

EU Financial Assistance
It is a reward for good performance of the countrys state administration.

It goes through the framework of the state administration.

It is a test for the democratic maturity of both political systems and civil society.

EU Civil Society Support in Bulgaria

Highly politicized decision-making process Monopolization of the process by the Executive power

Lack of transparency
Quasi civil society structures created and funded Funds provide revenues for certain political circles in practice

Impact
Increased mistrust of citizens in the NGOs legitimacy. Limited NGO capacity to influence decision-making process. International isolation and increasing marginalization of the NGO sector. NGOs are in search of new identity mission and activities.

Lessons Learnt
Ensuring stable political systems with mature political parties. Accomplishing long-term structural reforms in the policy spheres of citizens concern. Assuring functioning institutions of representative democracy, trusted by the citizens.

Lessons Learnt
NGOs should gain the trust of their constituencies and acquire mandate for action. NGOs should develop capacity for:
genuine national agenda-setting and

effective public advocacy.

The EU financial support management should be detached from the political establishment unless there is a guarantee of sustainable functioning system of checks and balances to prevent misuse.

Assya Kavrakova
Program Director European Policies and Civic Participation Program Open Society Institute - Sofia E-mail: akavrakova@osi.bg Web site: www.osi.bg www.eupi.eu