CSLN

Art of understanding - expirience of cooperation

Civil Society Leadership Network

Armenia - Azerbaijan - Georgia - Moldova - Ukraine

Our Aim:

Strengthening civil society in Ukraine, Moldova and the Southern Caucasus and its involvement in the solution of political, social, cultural and other problems in their countries, and in their region.

Our Objectives:

Information and Education

- to strengthen capacity building, organisational and communication skills of civil society leaders in Ukraine, Moldova and Southern Caucasus

- to educate and inform civil society leaders about European democratic processes, standards and values

- to increase the ability of civil society organisations and their activists to promote domestically Council of Europe standards and use them in their contacts with the authorities.

Communication and Partnership

- to connect emerging civil society leaders with their peers from the Black Sea region countries and international non-governmental organisations

- to contribute to dialogue and confidence building between different communities in frozen conflicts zones in the Southern Caucasus and Transnistria

Our Target Group:

Civil society leaders and activists.

News & Events

25.06.09

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"The Council recalls its strong commitment to further deepening the relationship between the EU and the Republic of Moldova, on the basis of shared values and principles. The Eastern Partnership,launched in Prague on 7 May as a specific Eastern dimension of the ENP, provides a new, ambitious framework for taking the EU-Republic of Moldova relationship to a new level. The Council is committed to enhancing EU support for further political and economic reforms in the Republic of Moldova, aimed in particular at strengthening democracy and good governance, the rule of law, freedom of the media and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Council welcomes in this context the Commission's intention to launch a comprehensive package for democracy support in the Republic of Moldova.

25.06.09

Council of the European Union

Brussels, 23 June 2009

Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), condemned the attack on Sunday against a patrol of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia near the Abkhazian administrative boundary, in which the driver of an accompanying medical vehicle was killed:

"I strongly condemn the attack yesterday against a patrol of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia near the Abkhazian administrative boundary, in which the driver of an accompanying medical vehicle was killed. I want to extend my most sincere condolences to the family and relativesof Avtandil Akhaladze. EUMM is an unarmed mission that aims at improving the lives of the people in the region. Any attacks on our unarmed monitors and their patrols are completely unacceptable. I remind all the parties of their responsibilities to ensure stability and security in the territories under their physical control."

What happens in the countries in the Eastern Europe and in the Southern Caucasus affects the European Union. Successive EU enlargements have brought these countries closer to the EU and their security, stability and prosperity increasingly impact on the EU’s. The potential these countries offer for diversifying the EU’s energy supplies is one example.

All these countries, to varying degrees, are carrying out political, social and economic reforms, and have stated their wish to come closer to the EU.