Organised Civil Society: Role and Tasks in an Enlarged European Union

Organised Civil Society: Role and Tasks in an Enlarged European UnionCan Organised Civil Society play a role in effective communication between EU institutions & European Citizens?Oliver HenmanPalermo 28-30 November 2007

Introduction

• What is NCVO?• Relationship with UK government and The

Compact• Missing Link Project• Opportunity for European-level Compact

or Concordat?

Some Basic Facts about NCVO

• Established in 1919• England wide remit• 5400+ member organisations• c. 120 staff• £14 million approx. income

UK Civil Society & Government

• Relationship is defined by the Compact (see next section)

• Charity Commission regulates organisations with charitable status in England and Wales. It is independent of government but responsible to it.

• Well-established culture of consultation on policy development.

The Compact: Conquests

• Compact agreed in 1998, sets out the relationship between government and the voluntary sector; defining role and responsibility of each side

• Broad consultation across the sector - widespread ownership of the project

• Agreed across Government, not just one department• Cross-party support, includes opposition parties so

policy is embedded • Includes mechanism for measuring effectiveness• Clearly established right for organisations to campaign

even if in receipt of government funding

The Compact: structure• Compact Voice• This is the body that represents the voluntary sector to

government on the Compact; including Local Compact Voice and new National Compact Voice Network

• Compact Advocacy• NCVO run this service to campaign for civil society

groups that suffer from a Compact breach, generally most cases relate to the funding or consultation Codes of Good Practice

• Compact Commissioner• Neutral organisation that oversees the Compact as an

independent body to ensure that the Compact is being upheld

The Compact Codes of Practice• Funding and Procurement

• Consultation and Policy Appraisal

• Volunteering

• Community Groups

• Black and Ethnic Minority Groups

Key learning

• Two-way relationship - ’win-win’• Get wide political support• Make it a document that can grow• Ensure local and international connection• Make it specific!

EU Civil Society 1:IntroductionNGOs and voluntary organisations are

fundamental to the development of a democratic and socially inclusive society and to an open, transparent and democratic EU

The institutions of the EU increasingly recognise the important role played by civil society organisations in informing and implementing EU policy in key areas that affect EU citizens

EU Civil Society 2: European InstitutionsCitizen engagement and the participation of civil society organisations

is a growing priority, as set out in the new EU Reform Treaty:

‘Title II: Provisions on Democratic Principles’Article 8a, 3. Every citizen shall have the right to participate in the

democratic life of the Union. Decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen

Article 8b, 2. The institutions [of the EU] shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society

This article 8b, also includes the new tool of Citizens’ Initiative whereby 1 million citizens may put an issue ont eh agenda of the European Commission

EU Civil Society 3: European Voluntary SectorNGOs and voluntary organisations, for their part, must

guarantee their legitimacy and accountability through high standards of conduct and must ensure that their beneficiaries, members, and supporters are informed and consulted on issues which affect them under a Governance Code of core principles

The independence of NGOs and voluntary organisations, and their right to criticize and campaign on EU policy and legislation must be safeguarded, irrespective of whether organisations are in receipt of EU funding

Missing Link Project

• Network of national platforms across Europe, this includes at least one prospective member in each member state, such as CNVOS (Slovenia) and NENO (Estonia)

• Developed since 2005 with European Council for Non-Profit Organisations (CEDAG) in Brussels

• Funding from European Commission 2006-2007 under ‘Active citizenship’

• Recent seminar - consolidation of autonomous structure with Working Group, comprising of NCVO, NICVA, SOS Malta & Social Forum (Sweden)

Some Key Links

• European Commissioner for Communications Margot Wallstrom: Plan D for Democracy, Dialogue & Debate

• European Parliament: Vice-President Gerard Onesta, Citizens’ Agora

• European Economic & Social Committee: 3rd Group

• Partnerships across EU and beyond to neighbouring countries, eg. Social Platform

Building the European Network• International Officers from UK member organisations• Consolidate partners in every EU country• Shared best practice across organisations• New independent funding stream to encourage

autonomy and set out sustainable plan• EU Treaty consultation • Europe-wide civil society Compact and good

governance principles• Wider international partnerships, eg. Civicus

Road Towards a European Compact/Concordat?

• Proposal for a Compact-style agreement for the EU Institutions and NGOs.

Why do we need a Compact?

• Complex relationship between civil society and the European institutions– Not just consultation, not just funding

• No all-encompassing memorandum of understanding exists– Different expectations of the relationship

• Lack of faith in the Minimum Standards of Consultation by civil society

What a Compact would offer• Many non-Brussels based NGOs feel

excluded from consultation opportunities• Widely differing levels of agreement and

standards of engagement across EU• Diverse attitudes to dialogue and

communication from the European institutions: Parliament; Commission and associated Committees

Key Principles of Compact

• Independence to campaign irrespective of funding.• Consultation on all policy over 12 weeks minimum

period• Communication rules to be put in place (regarding letters

emails etc)• Strong scrutiny and evaluation: European Parliament

to play a role.• Transparency and accountability of civil society

organisations• Agreement to give proper notice of funding decisions

and full cost recovery

Some Useful Links

www.ncvo-vol.org.ukwww.thecompact.org.ukhttp://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/

thecompact.asp

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