On the occasion of our 21st General Assembly, our Confederation met in Brussels (Belgium) on 10-11 June. Over the two days, delegates from the 57 national platforms, networks and associate members gathered to celebrate the successes of the past year and how to further enhance our joint strategy. CONCORD’s General Assembly reflected on the way forward following the results of the European Parliament elections that took place between 6 and 9 June, which showed a clear turn to the right in many countries. These results have potential implications for EU international cooperation and civil society space both in Europe and in partner countries.
The agenda for the General Assembly began with a session in which we looked back on our 2023 successes in the framework of the first year of CONCORD’s Strategy 2023-2026: To get there. Together. These included putting forward a strong voice to remain relevant as an interlocutor on key policy issues, keeping inequalities on the EU agenda, successfully participating in EU policy processes and boosting CSO engagement. During the last year, we hosted our first Equality Day, shaped the Commission’s Inequality Marker tool, and launched the report Who holds the lion’s share? A closer look at Global Europe Funds for CSOs, to name just a few.
In parallel, the first day of the Assembly also provided an opportunity for a first exchange on the new political configuration of the European institutions after last week’s elections. Besides general reflections on the results, delegates discussed potential effects on civil society space and international cooperation and possible opportunities that may arise in the coming months.
The thematic sessions
Our General Assembly was pleased to welcome Heidy Rombouts, Director General for Development. Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Richard Wouters, member of Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks (the think tank of the Dutch Green Left party); Olof Skoog, European Union’s Special Representative for human rights; and Sonya Reines-Djivanides, Executive Director of the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO), for a panel discussion on Safeguarding the integrity of EU’s international cooperation in times of geopolitical tensions. Following the results of the 2024 European Parliament elections, members reflected on the way forward for international cooperation and sustainable development. Our Confederation is eager to work hand-in-hand with the renewed institutions – and each other – to shape a better world, starting from the EU.
The statutory sessions
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Our General Assembly elected three new Board members: Antonia Potter Prentice, Director of Alliance 2015; Agne Kuimet, Executive Director of AKÜ, (Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation); and Daniel Kaba, Executive Secretary of Ambrela, (Platform of Development Organisations) from Slovakia. We are looking forward to working together with you.
We would also like to thank our outgoing Board members, Céline Mias who has acted as CONCORD’s Vice President since 2018 and served two mandates on the CONCORD Board; Paola Berbeglia, who served two mandates as well and was member of the Board since 2018; Blandine Bouniol, whose mandate is coming to an end after joining the Board in 2021; and João Martins, who was co-opted in December 2023. Thank you for your invaluable collaboration in the past years, your contribution has been essential on the road to consolidating CONCORD’s influence in the EU’s international cooperation in critical times for civil society.
NEW MEMBERS
Our Confederation is growing! Our General Assembly renewed the associated membership of CARDET (Center for the Advancement of Research and Development in Educational Technology), and approved the membership of the Lithuanian NGDO Platform – as a member of the Confederation. Welcome to the CONCORD family!
Annual Report 2023
Delegates at the General Assembly also approved our Annual Report 2023, which reviews CONCORD’s efforts to claim meaningful space for civil society in Europe and around the world. The full report is available on our website.