Experiences from Hungary and Denmark How the government cooperates with the civil sector   The project “Technical support to the Civil Society Department in the Government of the Republic of Macedonia” is supported by the European Agency for Reconstruction and it is implemented by COWI from Denmark, INTRAC from Great Britain and the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation   The purpose of the study visits was to share the best practices of cooperation between the governments of Hungary and Denmark with the civil sector in these two countries and generally, the condition of the civil sector and the way of their functioning and sustainability, as well as the level of development of civic self-organization and mobilization.   Hungary The participants of the study visit had an opportunity to get familiar with the main issues related to governmental relations with civil society organizations and mechanisms for allocation of funds and other kind of support to civil society organizations. In Hungary, the Sector for civic relations has the role of preparer and the one that implements the Strategy for cooperation with civil society organizations. One of the disadvantages of this body is its location in the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, instead of being located in the Government. This has contributed towards losing the opportunity for horizontal coordination with the other state institutions and effect on governmental policies related to civil sector issues, so the Sector for civic relations cannot realize its function completely. In the Ministry of Local Governments and Regional Development the participants had an opportunity to find out how the Strategy for cooperation with civil society organizations of Hungary is being implemented, as well as the concrete mechanisms for cooperation and allocation of funds between the ministry and civil society organizations. The cooperation is above all on local level and each local government usually has its own strategy for cooperation with civil society organizations. In terms of the so far legal frame, in Hungary there are several forms of civil society organizations that can be registered and they are allowed to work as informal associations, too. To improve their sustainability, the state has given them an opportunity to carry out economic activities and enjoy tax relieves that guarantee their functioning. Novelties project civil society organizations to be able to establish and be established by legal entities and to operate as trade companies (limited liability companies, joint stock companies). Regardless of their organizational setup, profit is not allowed and can be used only for the purpose the civil society organization has been formed for. The Hungarian government has founded the National Civic Fund (NCF) by decision. This is an effort to encourage implementation of the Law on 1% philanthropy. In accordance with this law, the citizens of Hungary can donate 1% of the personal tax by their own choice to some of the civil society organizations. The Hungarian government, willing to encourage citizens’ charity, every year with special decision donates funds from the NCF budget, in the amount of total funds given by the citizens as charity.   Denmark The participants had an opportunity to visit governmental institutions, civil society organizations and shortened training course for project cycle management. Denmark is characterized by a different political, socio-cultural and economic context from Hungary. This contributes to see different (alternative) ways of civic association, civic initiatives and actions. According to some data, each Danish at the age between 18-70 in average, belongs, that is, is a member or volunteers in three civil society organizations. Democratic culture is deeply rooted in all volunteering associations and organizations and most of them get public financial support. In Denmark there is not a strict legal regulation for civil society organizations and there is neither a separate written governmental strategy for cooperation with civil society organizations, neither strict rules for obligatory participation of civil society organizations in creating policies, or any special criteria for financial support. Tradition and high degree of trust between people in the society are the basic factor for a developed civic society and rooted awareness of it. Disputes related to certain initiatives, amendments or legal solutions are carried out along with the whole public and it is understandable that both citizens and civil society organizations get involved in the process of decision making, without any special regulative mechanisms for that. A criterion for civil society organizations’ involvement and trust by the state institutions are the results that civil society organizations achieve and their reputation in the public. Relations of cooperation between competent state institutions and civil society organizations and above all their financial support are based on mutual agreements depending on the needs. The biggest support is given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for development programs and projects in developing countries and there is a developed Strategy for civil society. A big percent of the support given by the Danish government for the developing countries is distributed through a few civil society organizations from Denmark. In 2005 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed framework agreements with 6 civil society organizations that should have their own participation provided through private resources in Denmark. These organizations have gained the right for support by the state on the basis of their long-years work, the results achieved and their ability to mobilize funds from private resources, too, that is, from the citizens. No one contests their legitimacy and relevancy, since according to the Ministry’s requirement, as soon as the organizations are capable of mobilizing support from the public and when the public trusts them, their eligibility is undoubted.   Suzana Nikodijevic – Filipovska Manager of the sector for policies analysis and coordination General Secretariat of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia Manager of the Project’s Working Group   What are your general impressions of the study visits to Hungary and Denmark? The gained knowledge and experience in terms of the models of cooperation between the Government and civil society organizations, the legal frame for civil society organizations’ operations and the ways of financial support and their development have to a great extent contributed to final definition of the text of the proposal-strategy for cooperation with the civil sector. One of the most important learned lessons from these visits is certainly the fact that there is no democracy and national solidarity without a social dialogue, a functional system of representing interests and a strong civil society.   What are the differences in these countries in terms of cooperation between the government and civil society organizations? In the past decade Hungary was considered to be a leader in legislation that affects civil society organizations. In order to improve the laws quality by increasing participation in the public, the Hungarian government has introduced an Open legislative program and putting the proposal-laws on ministries’ web sites is an obligation contained in the Law for freedom of electronic communications. Specifics for the Hungarian model of relation government-civil society organizations is the existence of an institutionalized system of relations, functioning of separate departments for support of civil society organizations in relevant ministries, special advice or working groups (with participation of civil society organizations). The Danish system of civil society organizations’ functioning and their cooperation with governmental institutions differs to a great extent from the conditions in Hungary, as their cooperation is basically informal. Most of these relations are not regulated by a law, which proves that it is a country with tradition and democracy, where cooperation with the civil sector is part of the everyday work. The civil society organizations in Denmark are an important and competent partner to the state in the implementation of development programs. Every year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concludes a framework agreement with a limited number of civil society organizations (6 in 2005), through which allocation of about 36% of the Danish humanitarian aid for the developing countries is made.   Is the experience applicable in the Macedonian context? The concept of open legislation that enables civil society organizations to take active participation in providing public services, especially in the field of social protection, is a good example of partnership between the government and civil society organizations, which is contained in the proposal-strategy for cooperation with the civil sector of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. Part of the legal competencies of the government is to encourage the development of the civil sector (article 8, item 10 of the Law for the Government of the Republic of Macedonia) and passing the Strategy for cooperation with the civil sector will contribute to new quality in building democratic culture and social cohesion.