Transcript of The European Civil Society and its dealings with the European Institutions.
- Slide 1
- The European Civil Society and its dealings with the European
Institutions
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- I. The role of civil dialogue in the EU The search for a
participatory democracy Institutional definitions The role of
CSOs
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- The search for a participatory democracy Participation to
policy formulation The EU legal framework for civil society
participation Gaining legitimacy through civil dialogue Involving
the candidate and accession countries civil society in the
enlargement process
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- Institutional definitions Civil Society organization: economic,
social operators outside government and public administration NGOs:
non member-oriented objectives International focus NGOs platform:
cross-thematic co-ordination NGOs networks: thematic
co-ordination
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- European institutions involved European Economic and Social
Committee: Advisory body for the Commission and the Parliament.
Employers / employees/ Diverse activities components Council of
Europe: focus on Human rights. No direct link to EU institutions.
European court of Human Rights: linked to the Council
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- European Institutions relations with SCOs Council of ministers
ADOPTS LEGISLATION WITH THE PARLIAMENT TRHOUGH CO-LEGISLATION
PROCEDURE Amends legislative proposals from the Commission Defines
and implements the EU common foreign policy European Parliament:
Chamber Bureau Sanding Committees: Development / of Foreign Affairs
/ International Trade etc. Proposes guidelines for the legislative
programme to the Commission.Request / gives opinion on legislative
proposals from the Commission SCOs DG Trade Commissioner Trade
policy formulation (WTO) COMMISSION DG Development Commissioner
Formulates co-operation policy, co-ordinates relations with ACP DG
Enlargment Commissioner Monitors the enlargement process DG
External Relations Commissioner Co-ordination of the external
activities Interface Council of Europe Other DGs EuropeAid
Co-operation Office Implements the external aid instruments CARDS /
TACIS / MEDA / Africa / Asia/ Latin America ECHO Humanitarian Aid
Office: In charge of implementing and Moitoring humanitarian
projects Policy formulation level Policy implementation level
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- The role of civil dialogue CSOs as dialogue facilitators CSOs
as implementation actors CSOs as information relays
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- II. Origins of the European NGOs networks and platforms The
immediate post-war period: networks around the United Nations
Networks development around the Council of Europe during the 60s
European and national platforms constitution around the European
Institutions Networks and platforms joining into CONCORD
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- Networks development around the Council of Europe NGOs
consultative status (SCOs observers, SCOs communications) The
Council direct link to the governement and its focus on human
rights
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- European and National platforms constitution around the EU
institutions The CLONG creation: a Commission monitored process
CLONG creation impact on the national level co-ordination
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- NGOs Networks and platforms joining into CONCORD Examples of
positive impact from NGOs advocacy on the EU institutions Previous
NGOs organizational pattern weaknesses -Lack of co-ordination -NGOs
double representation -EU institutions financial dependency CONCORD
creation (2003)
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- III.NGOs Platforms and networks structure and mission National
platforms European Networks CONCORD
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- National platforms Mission: REPRESENTATION, information,
advice, development education, (activities in the South) Structure:
Board, General Assembly, Executive Committee, Secretariat Funding:
membership fees, governemental funding Registration criteria: legal
status, country bases, min. years of experience, development
focused, statutory organs
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- European networks Mission: ADVOCACY, information, advice
Structure: similar to national platforms+ sometimes working groups
and steering committee Categories: professional / NGOs. Different
families of NGOs Funding: Commission and membership fees
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- CONCORD Mission Membership (18 national platforms, 15 networks)
Structure Funding (75% Commission, 25% membership fees)
Registration criteria
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- CONCORD mission To co-ordinate co-operation among NGOs in order
to influence political debate and policy at EU level To improve
legitimacy of NGOs as strategic EU institutions partners To ensure
stable and quality access to the EU institutions To contribute to
capacity building at NGOs level
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- CONCORD Structure Secretariat
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- IV. CSOs dealings with the European Institutions Main existing
consultation processes European Economic and Social Committees role
in debate The European institutions Minimum standards and
principles for consultation
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- Main existing consultation processes Macro level - DG External
Relations/DG Dev/DG Trade/DG Employment and Social Affairs -ACP-UE
Joint Parliament Meso level - Group of 8 and DG Environment
-European Initiative for H.R. dialogue -Food Security dialogue
(EuronAid) CONCORD EuropeAid dialogue on funding instruments
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- The European Economic and Social Committee role in debate The
EESC self image as an intermediary position between the SCOs and
the european institutions The NGOs conception of the EESC as
facilitator of a direct dialogue with the institutions
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- Minimum standards and principles Welcomed as a first step in
the consultations regulation process by the CSOs Target
groups:favours European level organizations as interlocutors
Feedback mechanisms
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- V. Challenges in the EU-SCOs dialogue Networks and
confederation internal challenges EU institutions SCOs dialogue
Enlargement impact on EU institutions - SCOs dialogue
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- Networks and confederation internal challenges Search for
financial autonomy Establishing joint positions notwithstanding
huge heterogeneity National and European levels advocacy activities
co-ordination Taking small NGOs into account
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- EU institutions- SCOs dialogue Eligibility criteria Need for a
legal basis and a Commission- wide framework for consultation More
informal and flexible mechanisms Improve EU inter-service
co-ordination
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- Enlargement impact on EU institutions -SCOs dialogue A
different relation to developing countries Aid structures
implementation Capacity building in CSOs
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- VI. Turkish CSOs prospects Current European funding available
Advantages and constraints of joining a network Turkish CSOs access
to the EU co-financing scheme Guidance et technical advice
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- Current European funding available Civil Society development
programme European Initiative for democracy and Human Rights
Development of H.R., Democracy and Citizenship Education Public
Sector- Civil Society Cooperation Programme
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- Advantages and constraints of joining platforms and networks
Increase in advocacy capacities Information and knowlege sharing
Technical support Staff and time consuming Financial
constraints
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- Turkish CSOs access to the European co-financing scheme Recent
Turkish association law reform Attracting EU funding Legal
framework for foreign CSOs - Conditions for establishment - Respect
of national law
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- Guidance and technical advice Guidance for the accession
countries: The Trialog project -Aims -Activities
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- Trialog objectives Linking NGOs Building capacities Raising
awareness
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- Trialog activities Training Joint projects CSOs online database
Support in platform constitution
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- Useful links