"I am pleased to be able to share with you the newly launched call for applications to participate in the 2012 annual Forum event - which takes place in Sweden on 29-30 November 2012."

The deadline for applications, which should be sent to applications(at)eap-csf.eu is midnight, 18 June 2012. This is also available on the website: www.eap-csf.eu

Invitation now open to apply for participation in the fourth meeting of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (29-30 November 2012, Sweden)
The Steering Committee of the EaP Civil Society Forum is now inviting all interested parties to submit expressions of interest to participate in the fourth meeting of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum. The submission of expressions of interest is a necessary step in the selection process to participate in the EaP CSF meeting in Sweden in 2012.
The meeting will be made possible thanks to the support of the European Commission/European External Action Service and the support of Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Submissions of expressions of interest (see application form attached) should be completed in English or Russian and sent before midnight CET, 18 June 2012, to the contact e-mail address: applications(at)eap-csf.eu
The first EaP CSF took place in Brussels on 16-17 November 2009 and gathered more than 200 CSOs. During the Forum, participants elected the CSF Steering Committee and tasked it with the responsibility of developing a procedure for selection of the participants for the next Forum. The CSF Steering Committee elaborated the procedure that was applied in the process of selection of the participants to the second meeting of the EaP CSF, which was held in Berlin on 18-19 November 2010, and to the third meeting held in Poznan on 28-30 November 2011. The fourth meeting of the EaP CSF will be held in Sweden on 29-30 November 2012.
The procedure for selection can be found in the attached call for expressions of interest, duly updated in line with the emergence of national platforms, the need for more explicit criteria to be shared with applicants to ensure the transparency of the process, and to reflect the increase from four to five working groups.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The European Commission/European External Action Service will be able to fund the travel and hotel accommodation during the Forum meeting only for the selected CSOs. It will be possible for the EC/EEAS to cover the travel and accommodation of up to 180 CSOs – a maximum of 130 from the EaP countries and a maximum of 50 from EU member states. Note: Unlike in previous years, this year the EC/EEAS is funding the attendance of the selected EU CSO representatives.
The final list of CSOs invited to participate to the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum prepared by the CSF Steering Committee will be consulted with the European External Action Service/European Commission.

Jeff Lovitt
Executive Director
PASOS (Policy Association for an Open Society)