EuropeAid and Civil Society
Civil society and, more generally, Non-State Actors, have become European Union’s indispensable development partners.
In recognition of this evolution, the European Consensus has enshrined the participation of civil society as one of the common principles on which the EU's development policy is based.
The involvement of civil society's organisations and, more generally, Non-State Actors (NSAs) in development policy is not limited to recourse to their services as partners in project implementation. It is also oriented - and more so every day - towards the establishment of a new partnership based on the necessity for countries in southern Europe to claim ownership of their own development and on the sharing of responsibilities between the State and civil society in the fight against poverty.
This important qualitative leap enables NSAs to participate in the dialogue on strategies and sectoral policies and in the definition, preparation and implementation of development programmes and projects.
According to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, Non-State Actors include economic and social partners (and hence union organisations), the private sector, and civil society in all its forms (cf. Declaration I of the Agreement).
The Development Cooperation Instrument also refers to a certain number of bodies considered as non-State players. Generally speaking, only non-profit players are eligible for Commission financial aid. For definitions and more information:
- Revised Cotonou partnership agreement ( Article 6)
- Development and Cooperation Instrument ( Article 24.2)
- European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights ( Article 10)
The European Commission promotes the participation of civil society and non-state actors in development processes by means of two essential channels: geographic and thematic programmes.
Non-state actors are privileged partners of the EC in the implementation of thematic instruments, while geographical programmes share in common the fact that they encourage their involvement with state authorities on development strategies and sectoral policies, as well as in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of development projects and programmes.
The collaboration between civil society and the European Commission involves five priority activity areas:
- the promotion of legislative frameworks and appropriate regulations;
- the strengthening of internal governance, as well as of the ability to prepare and implement projects;
- an integrated State/civil-society approach at the national, regional and local levels;
- the possibility of civil society influencing decision-making by means of a policy awareness-raising and of sustained dialogue with governments;
- the setting up of networks and information exchanges enabling the organs of civil society to coordinate their actions and to communicate better with both governments and the public at large.
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