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