EaP CSF COVID-19 Policy Paper on Decentralisation and Local Self-Government in Eastern Partnership countries

All Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries face great challenges related to strategic planning, transparency, accountability in budget spending decisions, and civil society’s participation in decision-making. In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the implementation of the European principles of decentralisation and local self-government in the EaP region. This policy paper, prepared by the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, analyses the successes and challenges in the process of decentralisation and local self-governance in the EaP countries, and offers a set of recommendations for strengthening decentralisation processes.

The paper also recommends that the EU strengthens the financial capacity of civil society organisations in the region and its support in further developing gender budgeting at the local level and implementing inter-municipal cooperation.