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Opposition rises to planned agriculture mega-mergers
More than 200 organisations have today raised their objections to the planned mergers of six giant agriculture corporations. – Joint press release from Friends of the Earth Europe, EFFAT, European Coordination of Via Campesina and CONCORD Europe.
Over 230 NGOs join our call for the Europe We Want
The 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome is a huge opportunity to take stock of how far Europe has come – and how far we still have to go – in order to offer a sustainable and prosperous future to everyone in Europe. Going in that direction, more than 230 Civil society organisations and trade unions have signed the joint statement entitled “The Europe we want: Just, Sustainable, Democratic and Inclusive” which has been sent to EU leaders.
60 years of European Union : Join the mobilisation in Rome
On March 25th, the European Union will turn 60, the Treaty of Rome that founded the European Community, has been signed 60 years ago from now. This week, EU leaders, EU citizens and EU civil society will gather next week in Rome to celebrate this milestone and organise several events and demonstrations around it. CONCORD and its allies will be there too. Don’t miss the actions listed in the blogpost below.
EU Delegations Report 2017 “Towards a more effective partnership with civil society?”
What does an effective partnership between EU Delegations and Civil Society Organisations look like? Which impact have the EU roadmaps on the EU-Civil Society dialogue at country level? Do the EU funding modalities and instruments fit the needs of all Civil Society Organisations whatever their size and role? Get an answer and discover the other key findings in our new report “EU Delegations – Towards a more effective partnership with civil society”.
NGOs funded by the EU: your accountability is being put into question!
On February 6th, CONCORD participated in a workshop in the European Parliament organised by the Budgetary Control Committee on the Study “Democratic Accountability and Budgetary Control of NGOs Funded by the EU Budget”. This recent study is key for NGOs funded by the EU as it addressed important issues such as transparency and accountability, the functioning of the Financial Transparency System and the Transparency Register. Read the key findings and suggestions on how NGOs should tackle the criticisms mentioned in the report.
Human rights? Irrelevant for EU migration policies!
On the occasion of the EU leaders meeting, taking place in Valletta on February 8-9, CONCORD expresses its concern that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is increasingly used for the promotion of European migration and security interests. This is policy incoherence in its worst form, ignoring the EU Treaty obligation for Policy Coherence for Development and the 2030 Agenda’s commitment to Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development.
Monitoring a moving target: Assessment of the implementation plan of the EU Food Security Policy Framework
Discover our 5 key recommendations on the EU Food Security programme and how to ensure the Right to Food for all…
Sustainable Development Report 2016 French and Estonian
Great news for non-English speakers and French language enthusiasts! CONCORD report on Sustainable Development 2016 finally arrived in French language…
What will the Maltese EU Presidency work on?
From January to June 2017, Malta is chairing the EU Council. In that framework, civil society organisations, such as SKOP (Malta’s national NGDO platform and member of CONCORD) will use this opportunity to promote development education and raise awareness on development and cooperation policies. The following article will guide you through the Maltese priorities as well as the main development activities covered under the Presidency.
A look back on the Second High Level meeting in Nairobi
It is now a month since the second High-Level Meeting in Nairobi concluded. Looking back, was it a success? Certainly as the HLM concluded the civil society delegates were delighted with the outcome. Here is how it happened. Article written by Justin Kilcullen, former Co-Chair of CPDE.
Main outcomes of the post-Cotonou event
For two days, on December 6th and 7th, CONCORD and the FIP-IFP organised a seminar on the post-Cotonou process. These 2 days closed with a multi-stakeholders debate, titled “Stand up for a better future for all”. What came out of this process? What have we learned? What are the next steps? Read the joint statement and discover much more in this blogpost.
No more EU deals to keep migrants out
CONCORD in the news: The EU’s new partnership with Third World countries, modelled on the controversial Turkey deal, and trust funds to limit migration and return refugees to their home countries, have little safeguards for human rights, argue Jessica Poh-Janrell and Andrea Stocchiero of CONCORD.
CONCORD in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
CONCORD is happy to announce the signing of a renewed partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the coming two years.
European development NGOs urge the EU to agree an action plan that respects their promises on development and aid effectiveness
Today, as the EU adopted its Common Position for the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation High Level Meeting taking place in Nairobi on 30 November – 1 December, Europe’s development NGOs urged EU leaders to set themselves a clear timeline to achieve their commitments, crucial to delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Stand up for a better future for all – Event on post-Cotonou
On December 7th, CONCORD and the Slovak Presidency will host an open dialogue on the future of the Cotonou Agreement. The event, titled “Stand up for a better future for all” will bring together authorities and Civil Society Organisations from both the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states, to discuss the future of the EU’s partnership with 79 ACP states after 2020.
“Now actions must speak louder than words” European NGOs react on future European development policy
In a first response to European Commission proposals on a new European Consensus on Development, CONCORD Europe calls for the translation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into action and will be monitoring European governments to ensure the commitments will be followed through in legally binding policies and instruments.
Dear European leaders, your new plan for ending inequality will not work
CONCORD in the news: This article on 2030 Agenda from Evert-Jan Brouwer, Jussi Kanner and Tanya Cox (CONCORD steering group members for Policy Coherence and Sustainable Development) has been published in The Guardian on 21 November 2016.
CONCORD Report “Sustainable Development – Stakes could not be higher” 2016
The European Union will not achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 14 years if it does not adopt an overall strategy. Without that strategy, the incoherencies of EU policies will make that impossible, given the integrated nature of the 2030 Agenda, shows the new CONCORD report on Sustainable Development, titled “Sustainable Development – The Stakes could not be higher”.
First Learning & Exchange Forum- European NGDOs addressing shrinking civic space
CONCORD members gathered in Budapest on 8th and 9th November to discuss the shrinking space for civil society in Europe. This event, the first of its kind, aimed to foster information-sharing and mutual learning between our members on the solutions they are exploring. Our Hungarian members, HAND, supported the preparation of the event and highlighted the extreme situation for civil society in the country.
Upcoming report on Sustainable Development – Launch event
On November 16th, CONCORD will publish its report “Sustainable Development – The stakes could not be higher”. Do not miss this key publication analysing the EU’s implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Policy Coherence for Development and join the launch event.
Better cooperation between development cooperation and humanitarian assistance needed
Seamus Jeffreson, CONCORD Director was invited to speak on October 27th at the International Conference “Development and Democracy” in Bratislava, organised by the Pontis Foundation in the framework of the Slovak Presidency. Find here the speech and background info.
EU aid gap puts sustainable development at risk – CONCORD AidWatch Report 2016
The European Union has again failed to meet its commitment to spend 0.7% of Gross National Income on Development Aid by 2015. The CONCORD Aidwatch report 2016 published today, entitled ‘This is not enough’, reveals that only five countries met their 2015 targets.
EU aid: how much does each country give?
The accompanying infographics of the 2016 AidWatch Report.
Do you read me Brussels? – Article from Laura Sullivan
CONCORD in the news: This article on a new vision for Europe from Laura Sullivan, our Vice-President, has been published in BlogActiv on 19 October 2016.