To:
Andrius Kubilius, Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrus Ansip, Prime Minister of Estonia Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister of Latvia
CC:
Andris Vilks, Minister of Finance, Latvia Audronius Ažubalis, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lithuania Edgars Rinkēvičs, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Latvia Ingrida Šimonytė, Minister of Finance, Lithuania Jürgen Ligi, Minister or Finance, Estonia Urmas Paet, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Estonia 31 October 2012
RE: 2014-2020 EU Multiannual Financial Framework Dear Prime Ministers, The civil society organisations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through the national platforms of the Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation (AKÜ), the Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS), the Lithuanian National Platform of Development NGOs and the Lithuanian Development Education and Awareness Raising Network (LITDEA) turn to you ahead of the upcoming Extraordinary European Council meeting to present our suggestions for improving the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework for 20142020. We believe that it is crucial to avoid cuts in development aid levels in the new framework to guarantee that EU remains a truly respectable global player. From both a pragmatic and moral perspectives, development assistance should not be an adjustment variable in the negotiations. Therefore, we hope that you consider the following thoughts when formulating your positions for the meeting:
The EU must strongly reaffirm its commitment to reach the 0,7% official development assistance of GNI. Therefore, we welcome the EC proposal to increase the budget of the DCI by 17% in constant prices. The share of the Development Cooperation Instrument in Heading 4 (30%) and in the total EU Budget (2%) must be secured and maintained.
It is essential that the EC maintains poverty reduction and eradication as the most important and overarching objective of Development Cooperation Instrument and promotes the “principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms” under its general principles. It should be ensured that all EU spending on development and external policies, including trade and neighbourhood policies and the new EU External Action Service adheres to the core values of the Lisbon Treaty, building on a human rights based approach.
The concept of Policy Coherence for Development, with reference to the Lisbon Treaty, should be clearly and specifically reinforced in all external action instrument regulations, including the Partnership Instrument.
We welcome concept of differentiation, which calls to prioritise and focus on least developed and low income countries. However, the EU should not cease addressing poverty and inequality also in Middle-Income Countries around the world, including the Eastern Partnership countries. The EU must make sure that poor people in all
developing countries are guaranteed the possibility of leading a decent life despite of how poorly their countries are governed. Lack of progress in relation to reforms should not lead to cuts in development assistance to individual countries but rather a redistribution of assistance from government to civil society.
The EC proposal should include a clear recognition that the Baltic States and several other EU’s newer Member States have unique transition experiences to share, which ought to be utilised for helping to improve governance across the world.
We compliment the EC for recognising the civil society as an essential actor in development notably by maintaining a separate thematic program under the DCI to support the work of civil society but also by referring to civil society participation at all stages of development processes. However, there should be a stronger commitment to increase the political space for civil society globally. Moreover, the EU should earmark 15% of funds for civil society within the geographic programme and ensure an institutionalised consultation with civil society organisations. In addition, we ask you to guarantee that such conditions are established which enable civil society organisations from all EU Member States and also the developing countries to have equal access to these funds.
Regarding the European Neighbourhood Instrument, we call for clearly defined and applied benchmarks for its cooperation with all countries in the region based on improvement, stagnation or regression in the area of human rights. These should be determined through an open process with civil society involvement, and should only be based on the affected peoples' interests, not on the EU's political, security or ideological interests.
We remain open for further dialogue on the best ways to achieve the common Baltic, European and global goals for a more sustainable world. Please do not hesitate to contact us to further discuss the questions at hand. We wish you a successful meeting.
Sincerely, Piret Hirv Secretary-General of AKÜ
Inese Vaivare Director of LAPAS
Vaidotas Ilgius Director of the Lithuanian NGDO Platform
Lina Kalibataitė President of LITDEA
Further information: Estonia – Evelin Andrespok, Policy Officer of AKÜ, evelin@terveilm.net, +372 627 0191 Latvia – Inese Vaivare, Director of LAPAS, info@lapas.lv, +371 2627 5253 Lithuania – Marta Cubajevaite, Policy Officer on behalf of the Lithuanian NGDO Platform, marta.cubajevaite@eesc.lt, +370 656 04004 Lithuania – Lina Kalibataitė, President of LITDEA, info@litdea.eu, +370 686 60464