Influencing opportunities in 2008 and 2009
This is a defining time for Europe. By the end of 2009, a newly elected European Parliament and Commission will complete the implementation of the new institutional structures - including new structures for external relations, humanitarian aid and international development - and they will have completed a key budget review which will inform the future direction of Europe 's external policies and actions.
Securing positive changes will require smart strategies to ensure citizen pressure and organisational lobbying in Europe is focused so that politicians respond to public support for the EU to play a positive role across the international development agenda.
Below the following influencing opportunities are set out shortly for 2008 and 2009:
- Influencing the debate on the future of Europe
- Lisbon Treaty and Budget Review: creating a conducive environment for international development
- More and better aid: from Brussels to Accra
- 50 Global Days of Action against Poverty and Inequality
- Trade justice
- Transparency and Public Accountability
- Climate change
- Monitoring the new Africa-EU Strategy and Action Plan
Influencing the debate on the future of Europe
The lead up to the elections of the European Parliament in June 2009 will be a golden opportunity for civil society to call for a coherent European approach across the international development agenda at a defining time for European institutions and policies.
BOND, through CONCORD and GCAP is working with European trade unions, environment and other development organisations to make the most of the largest ever trans-national election and put Europe 's role in the world firmly in the pre-elections debate. You can input in the process in a number of ways, from policy analysis on your specific issues through to coordinated lobbying and public campaigning in the UK and across Europe.
Contact Glen Tarman, BOND Advocacy Manager, to find out more.
Lisbon Treaty and Budget Review: creating a conducive environment for international development
Despite the Irish vote against ratification of the Lisbon Treaty in the referendum held on 12 June, new structures will be in place for future EU external actions, including development. BOND is working to ensure that the new institutional environment is conducive to effective development policy implementation and coherent external actions. In 2008 and 2009 BOND is also working to be ready for the forthcoming mid-term budget review which will inform the nature of the new Europe.
Keep up to date and contribute to these processes by getting in touch with Romina Vegro at BOND.
More and better aid: from Brussels to Accra
On 19-20 May 2008 European Development Ministers met in Brussels to review progress on EU promises to deliver more and better aid. They assessed governments' performance towards their target to give 0.7% of GNI in aid by 2015 and discussed the common EU position at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness taking place on 2-4 September in Accra.
Ahead of the May Meeting, the third AidWatch report "No Time to Waste: European governments behind schedule on aid quantity and quality" was launched across Europe. The CONCORD AidWatch project brings together networks representing over 2500 NGOs to monitor closely each EU governments' progress on their commitments for more and better aid.
To know more, please contact Sarah Mulley, UK Aid Network Coordinator, or Romina Vegro, BOND EU Policy Officer.
Trade justice
At the end of 2007, 35 countries initiated Economic Partnership Agreements with the EU. The focus on development and partnership was lost in seriously flawed trade negotiations culminated in the public controversy between African and European leaders at last December Lisbon Summit . In 2008, the EU will negotiate details of Economic Partnership Agreements and other Free Trade Agreements, in the framework of a moribund WTO Doha round.
The emergence of the Global Europe agenda, which aligns all European external policies and actions on European commercial and security interests (through trade, investment, energy, development, migration and security policies) calls upon European civil society to renew their demands for a better Europe on the world stage, working for human rights, decent jobs, trade justice and poverty eradication worldwide.
Transparency and Public Accountability
December 2008 marks the deadline for registration of lobbyists to EU institutions. Transparent rules on lobbying and public accountability of European institutions are key to our efforts to influence Europe to become a force for positive change. December will see European campaigners put the deficiencies of the European institutions - from lobbying rules to the secrecy of the European Investment Bank - in the spotlight.
Visit Alter EU for more information or contact Romina Vegro, BOND EU Policy Officer.
Climate change
On 1-12 December 2008, Poland will host the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 14), one year after the Bali meeting.
In Europe and globally, Climate Action Network and the Global Call to Action against Poverty are keeping the pressure high on decision makers to generate a positive outcome for the planet and for the world's poor.
Monitoring the new Africa-EU Strategy and Action Plan
In December 2007, European and African leaders gathered in Lisbon and approved a new comprehensive Africa-EU Strategy and a relative action plan for 2008-10 (pdf). BOND worked with UK African diaspora organisations and other networks in the UK , Europe and Africa to influence the process ahead of the Lisbon Summit. The end of 2008 will be a good chance to assess the impact of the new initiative one year on.
Keep up to date and contribute to these processes by getting in touch with Romina Vegro at BOND.