ECNL and Civic Initiatives (CI) has worked with local experts, government and registration officials to prepare a client-friendly Manual on How to Register and Re-register an Association. The Manual was published in 2000 copies and is being widely disseminated among CSOs.
Between October and December 2009, ECNL conducted a series of trainings on the implementation of the new Law on Associations for registration officials and NGOs as well as promoted the publication. On October 27, the Vojvodina Fund for the Development of NGO Sector and CI hosted a presentation of the Manual in the Provincial Parliament of Vojvodina. The event revealed tremendous interest of CSOs in the process of re-registration. More than 200 representatives of local CSOs attended. Panelists at the presentation included representatives of the Ministry of State Administration and Local Self-Government, the Agency for Registration of Commercial Entities and ECNL.
The panelists provided a brief introduction of the major features of the new Law, and discussion followed, with participants raising questions with regards to re-registration requirements. In the course of the discussion, which lasted for more than two hours, panelists responded to those questions, and encouraged CSOs to contact CI with respect to any outstanding issues. On December 15, the Agency for Collaboration with NGOs of the Belgrade Municipality and CI hosted a presentation of the Manual in the City Hall.
This event was also attended by more than 200 representatives of local CSOs, and presented another excellent opportunity to educate them on the re-registration requirements as prescribed by the Law, and to clarify areas of confusion. Panelists at the presentation included Ms Aleksandra Raskovic of the Agency for Registration of Commercial Entities, Mr. Djordjije Vukovic of CI, Mr. Dejan Milenkovic of YUCOM, and ECNL. As in Novi Sad, ECNL received very positive feedback from participants, many of whom stressed the need to organize follow-up events on the same topic.
Download the Manual in Serbian here.