Evaluating the Democracy Assistance policies of the Visegrad Four countries in Belarus

About the Project: The experience of democratic transition and Euro-Atlantic integration of the Visegrad Four countries means that they are potentially key actors in
helping democratic actors in Belarus to foster greater freedom of association, respect for human rights, and democratisation. This roundtable will share conclusions drawing from the research undertaken in the Visegrad Four Countries and in Belarus within the framework of the PASOS project Evaluation of the Democracy Assistance Policies and Priorities of the Visegrad Four countries. The research looks at both projects funded by the Visegrad Four governments and at initiatives undertaken by non-governmental actors from the Visegrad Four countries with non-Visegrad sources of funding, and at the level of co-operation between Visegrad Four countries, and other donors. Based on this research, the roundtable aims to present interested parties with practical recommendations for the future work of implementers and grant-makers working on Belarus.

The project is led by the Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS), a network of 35 independent think-tanks in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The partners of PASOS working on this project are:

• EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, Czech Republic
• Center for Policy Studies at Central Europe University, Hungary
• Institute of Public Affairs, Poland
• Institute for Public Affairs, Slovak Republic

(The day's proceedings will be conducted in English under Chatham House rules - off the record)
Draft Agenda
(A lunch buffet will be served at 13.45)
13.45 – 13:55 Introduction: Jeff Lovitt, Executive Director, Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS)
13.55-14.15: Preliminary Findings and Policy Recommendations of Study into V4 Democracy Assistance to Belarus: Juraj Marušiak, independent expert, Slovak Republic, and Piotr Kazmierkiewicz, expert, Institute of Public Affairs, Poland
14.15-15.45: Roundtable discussion
Moderator: Jeff Lovitt, Executive Director, Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS)
Discussants:
Grigorij Mesežnikov, President, Institute for Public Affairs, Slovak Republic
Jana Kobzová, Program Officer, Pontis Foundation, Slovak Republic
Vitali Silitski, Director, Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies (to be confirmed)
Balazs Jarabik, Representative for Pact in Ukraine and Belarus
Topics to be addressed will include:
o Strategies to better match the donors' programmes with the needs of citizens, organisations and institutions active in strengthening democracy in Belarus
o In which sectors of democracy assistance do the Visegrad Four countries have a comparative advantage?
o Types and mechanisms of assistance that would produce the best results in
bringing about change in those sectors
o How can co-ordination be strengthened between V4 civil society groups and those of Belarus/ international implementers and civil society groups in Belarus?