How to become a partner: tools for dialogue
EuropeAid has created various spaces of dialogue with civil society organisations with the aim of facilitating an inclusive and participative process of reflection and debate. EuropeAid's main objective is to redefine the partnership between the EC and civil society organisations according to the evolving institutional and international contexts.
Since 2002 an informal dialogue between EuropeAid, European development NGOs, members of the European Parliament and representatives of Member States is in place. This 4-actor dialogue (Quadrilogue) was initiated at the Palermo Seminar (October 2003) organized under the Italian presidency. Since 2004, the so called “Palermo process” has taken the form of a series of informal discussions on subjects going from procedures (simplification, concept notes, eligibility, quality criteria) to issues related to the impact or awareness-raising of development programmes.
The collaboration between the EC and civil society takes place at different levels. In Brussels, representatives of civil society networks and platforms are regularly invited by EuropeAid to take part in meetings on the launch of new initiatives, on the adoption of Annual Action and Work Programmes, on study and evaluation results and alike. In addition, each year, EuropeAid organises 3-day regional seminars in all continents, bringing together a wide variety of stakeholders (local and European civil society organisations, Partner States and European governments, Partner States and European Members of Parliaments, Commission representatives, etc.).
This round table has taken the name of Structured Dialogue. Currently this process of dialogue is being reconsidered to integrate new key stakeholders in the development arena, mainly Southern civil society organisations and local authorities.
Among the tools available to civil society organisations to interact with the EC, PADOR (Potential Applicant Data On-line Registration) and the newly established Civil Society Helpdesk (CISOCH) to process information about and for civil society: a one-stop shop for all questions on cooperation between EuropeAid and civil society – making EuropeAid procedures, vocabulary, and work methods easier to understand.
Sources and useful links: