PASOS: Policy Association for an Open Society

Advocacy for Open Government

PASOS and seven members of the network have launched a two-year project to encourage governments in the Western Balkans to become more transparent.

EU Visa Policy in Eastern Europe and What Neighbors Can Do: The case of the Czech Republic

Europe Without Barriers and PASOS are pleased to invite you to a public discussion and photo exhibit on May 16, 2013, in Prague on the subject of “EU Visa Policy in Eastern Europe and What Neighbors Can Do: The case of the Czech Republic.”

PASOS report: Development bank key to Czech foreign aid program

The Czech Republic should create a bank to facilitate trade and aid to developing countries, according to a draft report written by analyst Vladimír Bartovic and presented at an April 25 PASOS event “Development Aid: The View from Prague.”

PASOS Think-Tank Awards 2013 opens call for nominations

PASOS has opened a call for nominations for the PASOS Think-Tank Awards 2013. The awards recognize outstanding think-tanks in young and aspiring democracies in Europe and Central Asia, and publicize the importance of their work. Deadline to apply is 6 September 2013.

PASOS joins think-tank training project in Ukraine

PASOS is partnering with two NGOs on a project to train think-tanks from across Ukraine on general good-practice models of public administration in the EU and how to apply those practices.

Time for visa-free movement for EU’s eastern neighbours, argues Piotr Kaźmierkiewicz in European Voice

Should the European Union allow Ukrainians, Moldovans and citizens of the EU’s other eastern neighbours to travel without visas, asks Piotr Kaźmierkiewicz, expert at the Institute of Public Affairs, Warsaw, in an article published on 7 March 2013 by the European Voice, the influential Brussels weekly publication. He suggests that the EU should revisit its [...]

PASOS opens call for Ilko Kucheriv Democracy Fellowship Programme

PASOS has opened a call for applicants for the Ilko Kucheriv Democracy Fellowship Programme, which assists the advancement of democratic practices in Ukraine by empowering professionals of independent democracy and human rights advocacy NGOs and think-tanks. Deadline to apply is 17 March 2013.

Launch of European Endowment for Democracy should mark the beginning of a new era of EU democracy assistance – PASOS policy brief

The long-awaited European Endowment for Democracy (EED) will launch its grant-making activities in the second half of 2013, and has now appointed an Executive Director, Jerzy Pomianowski, who takes up his position in May. In a new PASOS policy brief, Great Expectations - The launch of the European Endowment for Democracy should mark the beginning of [...]

PASOS kicks off ‘Advocacy for Open Government’ project

PASOS and seven members of the network have launched a two-year project to encourage governments in the Western Balkans to become more transparent. The EU-funded project targets governments in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia.

PASOS, partners release two new policy briefs

Two new PASOS policy briefs focus on developments on the topics of visa-free travel in Europe and the possibility of EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. The papers were were written as part of the PASOS project “Open Government, Deeper Democracy.”

Linking up Visegrad and EaP civil society

PASOS is partnering with the Yerevan-based International Center for Human Development, which is leading the project “The Role of Civil Society in EU Integration Processes: Real Engagement through Effective Involvement.” The year-long project is helping civil society actors in three Eastern Partnership countries draw on the EU integration experiences of NGOs in the Visegrad countries.

Nikola Poposki: Civil society enhances Macedonia’s EU ascension process

Civil society actors have a major role to play in assisting Macedonia’s efforts to join the European Union, said Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki at “Open Government, Deeper Democracy”, an international policymakers conference organized by the Center for Research and Policy Making and PASOS.

PASOS delegates elect four new board members at annual Assembly

Representatives of PASOS organizations gathering at the association’s annual Assembly in Skopje elected four new members to the network’s Board of Directors on November 10.

Peace Institute wins PASOS Think-Tank Achievement Award 2012

The Peace Institute was awarded the PASOS Think-Tank Achievement Award 2012 today, in recognition for their work on behalf of thousands of people stripped of their legal status after the breakup of Yugoslavia, a project that has yielded a victory in the European Court of Human Rights,

Forum 2015 wins PASOS Think-Tank Publication Award 2012

Morning After: Life without Supervision, an in-depth study of Kosovo’s compliance with the terms of the Ahtisaari plan published by Forum 2015 was awarded the PASOS Think-Tank Publication of the Year Award 2012 today.

PASOS releases 2011 Annual Report

The PASOS 2011 Annual Report details what proved to be an exceptionally active year for the network of think tanks. The yearly review shows how PASOS remains firmly committed to the mission of helping its members sharpen their ability to shape and influence policymakers across the region.

Open Government, Deeper Democracy: An international conference for think tanks and policymakers

On 9 November 2012, PASOS, together with our member in Macedonia, the Center for Research and Policy Making, is holding “Open Government, Deeper Democracy,” an international think-tanks’ and policymakers’ conference, in Skopje.

“Opening Doors” fellows release policy papers

Fellows participating in the fellowship program of “Opening the Doors of Policy-Making: Central Asia and South Caucasus” have released eight policy papers covering a wide variety of issues in the two regions covered by the project.

The Road to An Open Europe

Written by Institute of Public Affairs analyst Piotr Kaźmierkiewicz, this PASOS publication book is subtitled “An Advocacy Handbook for Civil Society: Understanding and Influencing EU Policymaking in the Area of Migration and Visa Policies.” The book complements The Right Approach to Europe. An Advocacy Handbook for Civil Society: Understanding and Influencing EU Policymaking, another PASOS [...]

PASOS launches online database of experts

Drawing up on the large number and variety of experts in the PASOS network of think tanks, the association has launched a searchable online database of public policy experts. The database features more than 270 experts from the network's 56 members.

“Opening the doors of policy-making is precisely what is needed.”

Central Asian governments must learn to adopt policies based on professional analysis if they expect to move forward on tackling the problems plaguing the region, according to Bohdan Krawchenko, director general of the University of Central Asia. Krawchenko spoke at a PASOS networking conference in Kyrgyzstan June 1.

Linking change-makers in the Middle East with democratic reformers of post-communist Europe

Representatives of PASOS and the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy held a four-day training seminar in Egypt May 10-13 for Egyptian NGOs. The sessions were part of a program to link reformers in post-Communist countries with Middle East organizations working on reform. The training focused on security-sector reform and capacity-building for think tanks.

‘Reaching the Tipping-point of Visa-free Travel for Eastern Partner Countries’

Four PASOS policy briefs were released at this March 27 seminar in Brussels, as part of “Paving the road towards visa-free travel between the Eastern Partnership countries and the EU.” The PASOS-led project promotes visa liberalisation between the six EaP countries and the European Union.

PASOS publishes guide to influencing EU policy

“The Right Approach to Europe. An Advocacy Handbook for Civil Society: Understanding and Influencing EU Policymaking” is the newest publication released by PASOS, as part of the Understanding and Influencing EU Policymaking project. The 112-page publication, released January 30, is primarily targeted at think-tanks and other policy-focused civil society organisations or networks.

Ilko Kucheriv Democracy Partnership Programme announces fellows

Five professionals at independent democracy and human rights advocacy NGOs and think-tanks from the CIS region have been named recipients of an Ilko Kucheriv Democracy Partnership Programme fellowships.

PASOS releases booklets on ethics, quality standards

PASOS has published two guidebooks for think-tanks, one a code of good governance and one based on a set of principles for ensuring quality control over policy work. “Thinking Ethically” and “How to win respect and influence policymakers” were released at the annual PASOS members assembly in Warsaw November 26.

“Opening the Doors of Policy-Making in the South Caucasus and Central Asia” launches with Istanbul training

The PASOS program, funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund, seeks to empower civil society organizations and to enhance public participation in public policy development in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

PASOS and partners launch “No Visa” websites in support of visa liberalization for EaP countries

The launch of PASOS’ new NoVisa.eu website marks the inaguration of a new multi-NGO program to advocate for abolishing travel restrictions between the EU and the six Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. The website is one of seven in the new “No Visa” network that includes country-specific versions of the site in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.