• 2023-07-10

Nataša Vučković on the role of civil society and the citizens in European integration

When we talk about the role of civil society, we are actually talking about the role of the citizens in European integration...

When we talk about the role of civil society, we are actually talking about the role of the citizens in European integration, said Nataša Vučković, Secretary General of the Center for Democracy Foundation. 

Citizens talk about what is important to them and that inclusive process, contribution, participation of citizens, is what the CSOs try to encourage. CSO tend to apply pressure on state bodies and local self-government to increase and more substantially involve the citizens in a decision-making process. This is very important because in this way decisions are in fact reflecting the needs of the people.

The second level is supervision, control, monitoring of how the reforms are introduced, and overseeing whether they comply with European rules and values and are they keeping up with the spirit of European integration. In addition to the manner of passing the public policies, it is vital how they are implemented and controlled. In other words, we here talk about the work of the administration, the Inspectorates and control bodies mandated to oversee the implementation of reforms - are they performing their mandate making sure that reforms are going well and that the value parameters are in place. This is important to environmental protection. The quality of air we breathe, the kind of food we eat, the kind of schools we have, the roads, factories we build, etc. – it is all part of the European integration process where we are simply trying to improve the quality of the life we live.

When we talk about European integration, what we are actually discussing are the economic and social benefits that this process brings to the citizens of Serbia. For this reason, we must participate in the debate and it is why the role of civil society in this process is absolutely vital.

Center for Democracy Foundation