On Tuesday 15 March 2011, the  Cidi project  “Capacity building of civil society to take part in policy dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, financed by the European Union, held a seminar for representatives of the Republika Srpska Government in Hotel Bosna, Banja Luka.

The seminar was officially opened by Mrs Lejla Rešić, RS Minister for Administration and Local Self-Government.

Guest speakers at the seminar were Dr. Igor Vidačak, Head of the Croatian Government Office for NGOs and Mrs Marina Buza-Vidas, Head of the Department of International Cooperation and European Integration, Croatian Government Office for NGOs. They presented participants with the Croatian experience and practice of allocating budgetary funds to civil society organisations, as well as the relevant EU standards in this area.  They also showed how allocation of budgetary funds to civil society organisations plays a key role in establishing transparent and efficient polciy dialogue.  In addition, representatives of the Cidi team presented a comparative analysis of the way in which civil society organisations are awarded public benefit status in European countries.

Fourteen participants from the Republika Srpska Government attended the seminar. For more information, please contact:  Maja Smrzlić, Communciations and Events Manager Tel: +387 33 260 356; Fax: +387 33 260 355; maja@cidi.ba; info@cidi.ba; www.cidi.ba