Civil Society Days2012-05-08

Strengthening democratic spaces for civil society in the European public sphere

Civil dialogue practices in Europe

The example of a joint initiative “The Code of Good Practice

for Civil Participation in the Decision-Making Process”

Civil dialogue practices in Europe

National framework agreements exist in 15+ countries in Europe Voluntary agreements public authorities

and civil society/NGOs Sets out each partners indispensable roles

and responsibility

Article 11 An opportunity for a structured public space for European civil dialogue?

The Code of Good Practice for Civil Participation in the Decision-Making Process a common European project

The Code of Good Practice Purpose: create enabling environment for civil society

involvement in political decision-making

Championed by Conference of INGOs

Legal background, Committee of Minister Recommendation (2007)14 on the legal status of NGOs in Europe

Builds on civil society best practices local/regional/national levels in 47+1 countries

Consultation and collective drafting 2008-2009 by civil society

Adopted 2009 in Kyiv “Supported in a declaration”, Committee of Ministers “Clearly needed”, Parliamentary Assembly “To be promoted”, Congress of Local and Regional

Authorities

Code content and structure

Part One - policyI.IntroductionII.Objectives and TargetIII.General Framework for Civil Participation

• Parameters• Principles – shared values• Conditions - responsibilities

Part One - policyI.IntroductionII.Objectives and TargetIII.General Framework for Civil Participation

• Parameters• Principles – shared values• Conditions - responsibilities

Part Two - practiceIV.How to Engage

• Levels of Participation• Steps in the Political Decision-Making Process• Cross-cutting tools and mechanisms

V. Matrix of Civil Participation

Part Two - practiceIV.How to Engage

• Levels of Participation• Steps in the Political Decision-Making Process• Cross-cutting tools and mechanisms

V. Matrix of Civil Participation

Implementation Implementation

Agenda setting

Drafting

Decision

Monitoring

Implementation

Reformulation

Steps in the political decision-making process

PartnershipPartnershipDialogue-Broad

-Collaborative

Dialogue-Broad

-CollaborativeConsultationConsultationInformationInformation

Low HighLow High

Levels of participationFrom low to high intensity

Example matrixPartnership •Permanent work

group of committee

Co-drafting Joint decision-making tools

•Delegations of tasks•Strategic partnerships

•Permanent work groups or

committee

•Permanent work groups or committee

Dialogue •Training seminars•Petitioning•Citizen’s initiative

•Experts seminars and

meetings•Multi-

stakeholder committees•Advisory

bodies

•Open plenary or committee

sessions

•Capacity building seminars

•Training seminars

•Evaluations conferences•Research

studies

•Seminars and deliberative forums•Permanent working group or committee

Consultation •Hearings•Events,

conferences, forums, seminars

•Expert seminars and meetings•Public forums•Quick polls

•Minimum standards for consultation•Consultation

plans•Web-based consultation•Hearings•Experts

seminars and meetings

•Open plenary or committee

sessions•Referendums

•Events, conferences, forums, seminars

•Feedback mechanisms,

polls, surveys, questionnaires

•Evidence gathering

•Seminars and deliberative forums

Information •Information access points for key documents•Key government

contact•Campaigning

•Events, conferences,

forums, seminars•Research

•Single information

point on current drafting

•Campaigning•Hearings

•Campaigning •Single information point on ideas for implementation

•FAQ•Public tendering

procedures•Websites and E-mail

alerts

•Single information

point on policy progress

•Single information point for evaluations

etc.

Levels of participation

Steps in the political decision making process

Agenda setting

Drafting Decision Implementation Monitoring Reformulation

What’s next?

Already in practice across Europe multiple uses

Implementation ongoing building a case bank

Basis for common European experiences, values and best practices

Use it, build on it, leverage on it!

Thank you for your attention!

ariane.rodert@socialforum.se

For further information:

Council of Europe website: www.coe.int/t/ngo