In 2014 ten years passed since Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic joined the EU, and the project posed the following question – how actively do civil society organizations (CSOs) participate in shaping European integration in their own capitals via the work on national positions on EU legislative proposals and policy documents? To help answer this question, a study was conducted about opportunities and experiences of CSOs contributing to national positions in Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic and other member states. The research covered national regulations in several EU member states outlining conditions for CSO involvement and analyse the practice on the ground in Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic via questionnaires and interviews with ministry representatives and CSOs. Specific cases were analysed within these policy areas: Eastern Partnership, institutional matters (e.g. Fiscal compact, European Citizens’ Initiative or European External Action Service), migration and integration of migrants.

The project had 3 objectives:

• To compare the different opportunities and practices of CSO input in national positions in Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic and other member states,
• To contribute to increased understanding among CSOs in the selected countries and other EU countries about opportunities to shape European integration,
• To demonstrate value added of CSO involvement in European integration, especially advocating for evidence and research-based input.

Results of comparative research were published in Latvian, Polish, Czech and English. They were disseminated in technical seminars and conferences in Latvia, Poland and the Czech Republic. A visualized material on EU decision-making will continue to help learning about the existing opportunities for the organized civil society to shape European integration.

Comparative research Opportunities for the organized civil society to influence EU decision-making via national positions

Project partners: Institute of Public Affairs in Poland and Institute for European Policy EUROPEUM in the Czech Republic. The initiative will also engage researchers from the European Policy Institutes Network.

The project is co-funded by the Europe for Citizens Programme of the European Union