Promoting civil society participation in law-making, oversight in Kosovo focus of OSCE initiative

The first in a series of meetings between the Assembly of Kosovo and civil society representatives on the improvement of co-operation and further inclusion of civil society in law-making concluded in Prishtinë/Priština on 21 May 2013.

The meetings are part of an OSCE Mission in Kosovo initiative to formalize co-operation between the Assembly and the non-governmental sector. 

“More structured co-operation between civil society and the Assembly of Kosovo will lead to greater transparency and to increased public participation in law-making and all other decision-making processes,” said Elaine Conkievich, Director of the OSCE Mission’s Democratization Department.

“A set of principles on co-operation between the Assembly of Kosovo and civil society organizations, which should be finalized by autumn this year and adopted by the Assembly, should also lead to greater oversight and accountability of the Assembly to the public.”

The initiative was launched upon a recommendation from an OSCE report on the Assembly-civil society relations, which calls for the establishment of a forum to “conduct a dialogue on improved principles of co-operation between the Assembly and civil society.”

The full report is available at //www.osce.org/kosovo/100446