BOND's European Policy Group
The EPG is a working-group of BOND members set up to develop advocacy and policy initiatives on EU development policy issues.
Next EPG Meeting:
For details contact Romina Vegro
Tel: 020 7520 0257
Next EPG Steering Committee Meeting:
For details contact Romina Vegro
Tel: 020 7520 0257
Since the 2001 merger between the UK Platform and BOND, UK NGOs have been increasingly pooling their resources and expertise to speak out with one voice on cross-cutting EU development issues. As BOND's think-tank on EU development policy, the EPG is a key forum for this work, ensuring effective representation of UK development NGOs in the EU and maximum impact of BOND's work with its sister NGO platforms across the EU.
The group is open to all BOND members who want to participate in joint advocacy and campaign activities.
To find out more or to join, contact Romina Vegro.
Mikaela Gavas, BOND EU Policy Officer is currently on secondment at the Department for International Development (DFID).
The EPG's vision of the European Union
The EPG believes that the European Union's (EU) international role should be to deliver on international commitments to eradicate poverty, promote economic justice and fair trade, and realise universal human rights. As a first step towards these goals, the Union should make a significant contribution towards achieving and surpassing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in sustainable, inclusive and equitable ways.
Structure
The Chair of the European Policy Group is:
Helen O'Connell - Head of Policy, One World Action
The group is led by a Steering Committee which meets on a regular basis and is made up of seven members.
Objectives
Europe's contribution to achieving the MDGs and eradicating global poverty is maximised by the EC and EU:
- Delivering more and better aid
- Negotiating for economic justice and fair trade
- Improving human security
- Ensuring that EU internal and external policies are coherent with, and enable the achievement of, development objectives
Priorities
In the coming three years, the EPG will prioritise work on:
- More and better EC and Member State aid
- Policy coherence for development
- Trade, with a particular emphasis on Economic Partnership Agreements
- Improving human security
For the full text document, please read the EPG's Objectives and Priorities 2006-2009 (word)