EU Neighbourhood Info Centre An ENPI project Talking about the Neighbourhood
Civil Society: a formidable catalyst for democracy The European Union attaches great importance to civil society, as it empowers citizens to express their concerns, contributes to sound and democratic policy making and holds governments to account, Neighbourhood Director at DG Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid Dr Michael Köhler told the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre in an interview. He reaffirmed the EU’s support to a dialogue with and among the key actors of society in the Southern Mediterranean, and underlined the regional structured dialogue underway in an effort to bring together civil society organisations (CSOs) under the same umbrella.
Interview with Neighbourhood Director at DG Development and Cooperation - EuropeAid Michael Köhler Civil society played an important role in the uprisings in the Southern Mediterranean countries. Has this had an impact on the EU’s relationship with CSOs of the region?
This publication does not represent the official view of the EC or the EU institutions. The EC accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to its content.
I must say that the Arab uprisings have proved to be a turning point in Europe's relations with countries in the Southern Mediterranean, causing a major rethink in policies and partnerships with the different actors in the region. Indeed, actors such as civil society, women, youth and media have moved closer to the core of discussions. The role of civil society in carrying up the expectations for a better future is particularly important. On our part we, as Europe, must act as more than just a witness to the efforts aiming to transform the societies in the region. While the situation in each country is different, we will make every effort to support what seems to us an essential element of a culture of peace: dialogue among the key actors of society, of which civil society is key. Overall, the voice of civil society is now more listened to by partner governments. Furthermore EU relationships with Mediterranean civil society have strengthened. Public consultations are increasing in Tunisia and Lebanon. However, in countries such as Egypt, expectations have not been met with concrete improvements, as shown in the case of the controversial 2013 NGO law. Progress towards freedom of association and assembly is uneven. Several countries are witnessing the blossoming of new civil society organisations, while in others CSO registration continues to be subject to discretionary powers. Is there a regional dimension to this effort? It has now become clear that there is the need for a strengthened and comprehensive dialogue with and among civil society at a regional level, but also with the authorities in Europe. We are determined to strengthen the voice of civil society in the policy and the political dialogue. It should allow exchanges between authorities and civil society on their concerns, priorities and the challenges they are faced with, in
This is a series of interviews with people involved in the Neighbourhood, prepared by the EU Neighbourhood Info Centre © 2014
Interview with Michael Köhler EU Neighbourhood Info Centre - An ENPI project
“Civil society represents a formidable catalyst for democracy and an essential watchdog of public life, fostering accountability and governance.”
“We will make every effort to support what seems to us an essential element of a culture of peace: dialogue among the key actors of society, of which civil society is key.”
“The EU supports and includes civil society in the Southern Neighbourhood…”
order to help foster a better entente among those actors. Our dialogue with civil society is being reinforced and we are now discussing setting up more permanent and comprehensive regional structures. To this end meetings have been held, in the presence of CSOs, government officials, journalists, EU officials, etc. These exchanges are on-going, with concrete ideas on how to create networks, reinforce dialogue and strengthen civil society being put to the table. A major event, the EU Southern Neighbourhood Civil Society Forum, is taking place in Brussels (29 - 30 April 2014) with some 200 participants during which ENP Commissioner Štefan Füle will launch the next phase of the reflection on how to set up the best “mechanisms for structured regional dialogue” building on already existing initiatives and platforms. How do you view the role of CSOs within each partner country and their relation to the authorities? Civil Society acts as a bridge between society and the authorities. It is our view that civil society represents a formidable catalyst for democracy and an essential watchdog of public life, fostering accountability and governance. Its role in scrutinizing public governance, especially the management of public finance, the balance of power, fight against corruption, etc. is critical. We strongly support an active and structured dialogue between civil society and authorities in our partner countries. The task is for governments to engage with civil society to help ensure that reform programmes reflect and have the support of society. This is a need for a change in mindsets from both sides and the creation of an enabling regulatory framework. A renewed partnership should be set up. What are the concrete actions the EU has taken to support civil society? The EU is channelling additional support to civil society, in line with the new approach of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and its financial arm, the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI). Allow me to illustrate this through some tools we have developed: Civil Society Facility (CSF): We are making EU support more accessible to CSOs through a dedicated Civil Society Facility. The main goal of the Facility, established in 2011, is to reinforce CSOs so that they play their part in change and can be real actors in the democratisation process. This is done by boosting their contribution to policy-making, and developing further their advocacy, networking and monitoring capacities. Since its inception, the CSF has benefited with €33 million for the South. European Endowment for Democracy (EED): As another message of solidarity, the EU set up the EED to help political actors of change that face obstacles in accessing donor funding, such as journalists, bloggers, non-registered NGOs, political movements. It offers a rapid and flexible funding mechanism for beneficiaries who are not or are insufficiently supported, in particular for legal or administrative reasons. The EED has a €6 million grant to support its set-up and functioning. Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF): Intercultural dialogue is one of the key tools for conflict prevention and resolution. This is why we are firmly committed to supporting the ALF as one of the major promoters of intercultural dialogue. The EU contribution to the ALF amounts to €10 million for the period 2012-2014; €7 million to support the functioning of the Foundation and its work programme 2012-2014, and €3 million dedicated to the programme "Citizens for Dialogue (Dawrak)", which provides CSOs with tools and skills for intercultural dialogue, exchange and networking. European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR): We continue also to promote media freedom by supporting CSOs’ unhindered access to the internet and the use of electronic communications technologies. This support occurs mainly through the EIDHR, our main instrument to help fight against human rights violations. Since the Arab uprisings, the EIDHR has doubled its investment in the region. Is there any financial assistance to CSOs through cooperation programmes for example? There are basically two different approaches: one is to really strengthen civil society, make it more viable, make NGOs partners in dialogue, and that can happen through financial assistance, through advice, through bringing them in contact with EU organisations. At the same time, of course, we want a civil society element of governance, we want them to scrutinize governments, our cooperation programmes, so we associate them also to the programming, to the planning, to the monitoring of the implementation of operations in the countries.
p.2
Interview with Michael Köhler EU Neighbourhood Info Centre - An ENPI project
“Our dialogue with civil society in the South is being reinforced and we are now discussing more permanent and comprehensive structures that could be put in place at a regional level.”
How do you select the projects and CSOs?
In Focus
EuropeAid Neighbourhood director interview video Info Centre Civil Society and Local Authorities webpage EU Neighbourhood Info Centre Civil society dialogue Communication Europe's engagement with Civil Society in external relations (2012) Civil Society Helpdesk EuropeAid civil society webpage
We have to distinguish between selecting projects and working with civil society. Our projects are usually demand driven, so there are tenders, there are calls for proposals and civil society organizations both in our partner countries and in the EU member states can apply. At the same time, it is equally important to have a policy dialogue with civil society, but we are not selecting the organizations. Our Delegations in the countries are in constant contact with NGOs, civil society organizations that want this contact, and we regularly invite them, for example, to discuss our programmes, like budget support operations. This dialogue is always held upon a demand from civil society. One last important aspect is that during the annual assessment of relations with each country, the Delegations invite local CSOs to submit their view. Could you give us a few concrete examples of civil society support that has had results? I will refer to two examples. Under the ENP South Regional Civil Society Facility, that seeks to facilitate civil society participation in policy making and reform, a regional project for the handicapped was funded in Egypt, Jordan and Palestine. The funding came through the CSF and the project was implemented by Handicap International and the regional networking of Disabled People Organisations (DPOs). The aim was to help them play an active role in the current legislative and policy reforms in the Middle East, ensuring the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in these processes. The objective is for the DPOs to be acknowledged by authorities and other CSOs as legitimate civil society actors in national policy processes. Another, very successful and dynamic programme, promoting the culture of dialogue, is "DAWRAK - Citizens for Dialogue" implemented by the Anna Lindh Foundation since 2012. DAWRAK responds to the new context defined by the democratic processes and reforms in the Arab countries, and the impact of the economic and social crisis in the region. It provides CSOs with tools and skills for intercultural dialogue, exchange, networking, partnership-making activities to develop a culture of citizenship and democratic participation in the Euro-Med cooperation. In conclusion, I must say that the lesson learnt from the Arab awakening, and in some cases revolutions, is that we cannot have stability and prosperity without democracy, good governance and inclusive growth. Expectations of a better future remain high and the EU considers the role of civil society in carrying through these expectations as particularly important.
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre An ENPI project The EU Neighbourhood Info Centre is an EU-funded Regional Information and Communication project highlighting the partnership between the EU and Neighbouring countries. The project is managed by Action Global Communications.
www.enpi-info.eu
p.3