Brussels, 30/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 30 November, the European Commission adopted the second phase of the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility to enhance involvement of civil society organisations in the European Neighbourhood area, which has a budget of €45.3 million for 2012-2013. The goal is to support civil society in policy dialogue with partner governments, to strengthen civil society's role in fostering public accountability and support their increased role in national reforms process and in local development agenda. The funding is divided in two parts: the Eastern Neighbourhood Facility will receive a new budget allocation of €23.3 million, split as €13.3 million for 2013 and €10 million for 2013; while the additional funds for the Neighbourhood South Facility will amount to €22 million; €11 million in each of the two years.
The Facility will be implemented through regional and local calls for proposals, and funding will be used to support civil society organisations' projects, networks, exchanges of best practices, training and meetings bringing civil society and public authorities together in order to help them advance the process of transition and transformation, explains the Commission in a press release.
The facility was launched by the European Commission in 2011 with funding of €26.4 million for 2011. (CG/transl.fl)