Nicolas Van Nuffel
Head of Advocacy at CNCD-11.11.11
On 21 and 22 March, European civil society organisations gathered in Brussels for the European Citizens’ Summit, with a dual aim: to discuss their proposals and strategies, and to speak with one voice for an open, fair and sustainable Europe. The result was the Brussels Declaration, adopted at the end of the Summit by over a hundred organisations.
The European Citizens’ Summit, organised by the CNCD-11.11.11 in collaboration with a series of European civil society networks, was conceived as a “privileged place of encounter and exchange” for all organisations and movements defending an open, just and sustainable Europe. By bringing together over 227 civil society organisations (CSOs) in Brussels for two days of debate on major European issues, the Summit achieved its mission with flying colours.
Participants also wanted to send a message against nationalism and for a Europe of solidarity on the eve of the European elections. Although the fields of expertise of the many CSOs brought together were very varied, they quickly drew up a common balance sheet, enabling progress to be made in this direction.
All those who took the floor during the opening plenary shared the observation that Europe has moved away from its values, lacks political courage, or is reneging on its commitments. The EU’s increasingly repressive migration policy, which runs counter to human rights, the lack of a social Europe, and the unravelling of Europe’s climate and environmental measures were cited to illustrate the situation.
But beyond this observation of a Europe in the midst of an existential crisis, the participants also agreed on the method for remedying it; as Tanya Cox, Director of CONCORD, emphasised in her speech, “More of the same won’t work. We need a radically different approach.”
Although, as its name suggests, the summit focused on European issues, participants reminded us that the future of Europeans is directly linked to people the world over. Voices from the South, such as that of Dinamam Tuxá, coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) and Sister Esperance Bufole Musimwa, of the Justice & Peace Commission in the DRC, were also present, providing first-hand accounts of the repercussions of European policies on populations in third countries.
After two days of exchanges and debates, this major civil society event concluded with the adoption of the Brussels Declaration, in which the CSOs validate their shared vision for a fair and sustainable Europe. By signing it, they commit to spreading this story so that the 2024-2029 legislature will be “one of promises kept”.
Unfortunately, the provisional priorities of the Council outlined in the draft strategic agenda for 2024-29 stand in stark contrast to civil society’s vision in the Brussels Declaration. The draft agenda consolidates the issues flagged at the summit; with security, defence and competition at the top of the Council’s priority list and a just transition nowhere to be found, CSOs’ concerns about the EU’s shift away from policies that consider people and the planet are clearly justified. In emphasising military readiness, the draft strategic agenda neglects the human dimension of security – including global inequality reduction, peacebuilding, and democracy promotion – which civil society placed at the heart of the Brussels Declaration. By failing to address these components in the draft, the EU not only risks sidelining human development, sustainable development and wellbeing, but also severe damage to its credibility by failing to live up to its own values.
This draft is still subject to change. We strongly urge EU leaders to consult the Brussels Declaration before the redraft if we are to see renewed institutions which contribute to equal, fair and inclusive societies globally.