The European Civil Society and its dealings with the European Institutions
I. The role of civil dialogue in the EU
• The search for a participatory democracy
• Institutional definitions
• The role of CSOs
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
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
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
European Institutions relations with SCOs
Council of ministersADOPTS LEGISLATION WITH THE PARLIAMENT TRHOUGH CO-LEGISLATION PROCEDUREAmends legislative proposals from the CommissionDefines 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 TradeCommissioner
Trade policy formulation (WTO)
COMMISSIONDG Development
CommissionerFormulates co-operation
policy, co-ordinates relations with ACP
DG EnlargmentCommissioner
Monitors the enlargement process
DG External RelationsCommissioner
Co-ordination of the external activities
Interface Council of Europe
Other DGs
EuropeAid Co-operation OfficeImplements the external aid instrumentsCARDS / TACIS / MEDA / Africa / Asia/ Latin America
ECHO Humanitarian Aid Office:In charge of implementing and Moitoring humanitarian projects
Policy formulation level
Policy implementation level
The role of civil dialogue
CSOs as dialogue facilitators CSOs as implementation actors CSOs as information relays
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 60’s
European and national platforms constitution around the European Institutions
Networks and platforms joining into CONCORD
Networks development around the Council of Europe
NGOs consultative status (SCOs observers, SCOs communications)
The Council direct link to the governement and it’s focus on human rights
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
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)
III.NGOs Platforms and networks structure and mission
National platforms European Networks CONCORD
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
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
CONCORD
Mission Membership (18 national platforms, 15
networks) Structure Funding (75% Commission, 25%
membership fees) Registration criteria
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
CONCORD Structure
General Assembly
Advisory Council Convenors Forum The Board
WGEU Financing
WGEnlargement
WGFood Security
WGDev. fundingWG TradeWG
CotonouWG
Dev. educationWG
EU PresidenceWG
Future of Europe
Secretariat
IV. CSOs dealings with the European Institutions
Main existing consultation processes European Economic and Social Committee’s
role in debate The European institutions Minimum
standards and principles for consultation
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
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
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
V. Challenges in the EU-SCOs dialogue
Networks and confederation internal challenges
EU institutions – SCOs dialogue
Enlargement impact on EU institutions -SCOs dialogue
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
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
Enlargement impact on EU institutions -SCOs dialogue
A different relation to developing countries Aid structures implementation Capacity building in CSOs
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
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
Advantages and constraints of joining platforms and networks
Increase in advocacy capacities Information and knowlege sharing Technical support Staff and time consuming Financial constraints
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
Guidance and technical advice
Guidance for the accession countries: The Trialog project
-Aims-Activities
Trialog objectives
Linking NGOs Building capacities Raising awareness
Trialog activities
Training Joint projects CSOs online database Support in platform constitution
Useful links