In Azerbaijan, Covid-19 as an excuse for suppressing civil liberties
The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) issued a statement on the suppression of civil liberties in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Belarus: Bologna process for universities still missing
The Working Plan to Implement the EHEA Tools in the Higher Education System of the Republic of Belarus in 2019 (hereinafter the “Working Plan”) was endorsed by the Praesidium of the Republican Council of the Higher Education Institutions’ Rectors on 14 February 2019 and approved by the Minister of Education of Belarus on 20 February 2019. On 20 March 2019, the Working Plan was sent to the BFUG.
The ceasefire regime in eastern Ukraine must be respected!
The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum would like to draw your attention to the continued violation of the ceasefire regime by Russian forces and illegal, Russian-backed armed formations. The latest ceasefire agreements were reached by the leaders of Ukraine, the Russian Federation, Germany and France at a Normandy format meeting on December 9, 2019 in Paris.
On February 18, 2020 Russian forces and illegal armed formations supported by Russia escalated the situation in the area of the conflict in the East of Ukraine. Violating the ceasefire regime, they attacked the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Zolote with the use of armaments forbidden by the Minsk agreements. That act of aggressive action demonstrated the unwillingness of the Russian Federation to fulfil all previously reached agreements to end the war and restore the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Taking into account this situation, the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) appeals to the European Council, the European Commission and the EU member states to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to comply with international law and to implement all agreements reached within the Normandy format and the Minsk Trilateral Group. The absence of practical steps by the Russian authorities in this regard should lead to the prolongation of EU sanctions against the Russian Federation, and even the imposition of new sanctions, should Russia continue to further violate the peaceful agreements that have hitherto been concluded.
Members of the Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum
Available for download
SC Statement on the violation of the process of peaceful conflict resolution in the East of Ukraine, EaP CSF Steering Committee, 2020
Moldovan civil society calls for respect of human rights
On 9 November 2019, the new administration published a Government Action Plan (GAP) for Moldova for 2020 – 2023. Instead of granting this proposal the legally envisaged time of two weeks of public consultation, the GAP was adopted only two days after its publication, thus breaking the legislation. Moreover, the Moldovan Civil Society was not consulted on their opinion on the public policies.
Position Paper on Research and Innovation 2020
The EaP CSF expresses its concern on the absence of workable national Research and Investment strategies, systematic underfunding and negative trends in national research systems in the Eastern Partnership countries.
Belarus: stop the lack of transparency!
Joint statement on the lack of transparency in the negotiations between Belarusian and Russian officials.