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Agro-ecology to strengthen resilience
To meet the food and nutritional needs of a growing population within our planetary boundaries, we need a shift in food production towards a highly adaptive, low carbon, resource-preserving type of agriculture and in-country value addition that benefits also the poorest farmers through higher incomes and improved access to safe, diverse and nutritious food.
The CSO Forum: preparing the future of EU-CELAC relations
Ahead of the official EU-CELAC Summit planned for 2017, CONCORD and its partner Mesa de Articulación will organise the 8th edition of EU-CELAC Civil Society Forum on 7-8 of September. For 2 days, civil society from both regions will discuss recommendations to ensure that solidarity, democracy and justice will shape future bi-regional policies. [English – Espanol]
The Cotonou Agreement – What will happen next?
CONCORD is closely following the revision of the Cotonou Agreement, the broadest EU partnership with developing countries. The Agreement will expire in 2020 and the official negotiations will start in August 2018. What will happen next? What is CONCORD’s position? Find all the latest useful information in this blogpost.
The building blocks of Sustainable Development – Reporting back from the HLPF
For the second consecutive year, world leaders and civil society representatives gathered in New York for the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Two years after the adoption of Agenda 2030, where do we stand on the road to “Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world,” making sure to leave no one behind? – CONCORD Director reporting back from NYC.
Reporting back from the EU Partnership Forum: The meeting place for CSOs from around the world
On 6-7 July, Civil Society Organisations, Local Authorities and Other Development and Human Rights actors gathered alongside European Institutions and Member States at the EU Partnership Forum 2017 in Brussels. Read our feedback from the event.
HLPF Voluntary National Reviews 2017: Spur of the moment or planting the seeds for a sustainable future?
Migration: Diverting attention from the lack of solidarity between EU Member States onto civil society organisations
Following Italian threats to close ports to boats carrying migrants and issuing a code of conduct for NGOs, we worry new measures will impede vital action in the Mediterranean.
Civil society calls for postponing the EU-Egypt Association Council
Following the newly ratified NGO law which seriously restricts civil society space in Egypt, Civil Society voices its concern and asks the EU to postpone the EU-Egypt Association Council.
Yes Member States, the EU must be a leader in sustainable development
EU Member States have just adopted the conclusions on the global Agenda. Following their lead, we call on the European Commission to: strategise, implement and deliver!
My take on the EDD17 – How to genuinely invest in Development? Invest in Planet.
Laura Sullivan was representing CONCORD in the Closing Ceremony of the European Development Days 2017. Here are her takes. In her first blogpost, Laura addressed the necessity of leaving the logic of economic growth as a central goal of our policies and politics on Development. Don’t miss the next episode.
My take on the EDD17 – How to genuinely invest in Development? Invest in People.
Laura Sullivan, Vice President of CONCORD and Director for Europe and the Americas at Actionaid International, was representing CONCORD in the Closing Ceremony of the European Development Days 2017. Here are her main takes (part 1).
Défendre l’espace société civile auprès des Institutions Européennes: un devoir aussi sur notre continent
CONCORD Director, Seamus Jeffreson, was invited to the General Assembly of Coordination Sud on June 15th to address the following question “Enabling environment for NGOs: What situation in France, Europe and the world?”. Here is the speech he delivered to Coordination Sud’s membership [text in French].
What can we take from the EDD17?
CONCORD Europe took part in the 11th edition of the European Development Days, which took place on 7th and 8th June 2017 in Brussels. Find below the main take-aways from this 2-day event.
What’s the Europe we want? Reporting back from CONCORD General Assembly 2017
CONCORD Europe held its 14th General Assembly on 31 May to 1 June in Brussels. Here is what you should take away from the debates, workshops, and more.
New European Consensus on Development: Double Standards for Sustainable Development
On 19 May, the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted the new EU Consensus on Development, central piece of the EU’s development cooperation architecture. Here is CONCORD’s reaction.
CONCORD Europe answers to Public Consultation on the EU External Financing Instruments
From 7 February to 3 may 2017, the European Commission held a Public Consultation on the EU External Financing Instruments. Read our reply.
CONCORD Europe backs Italian NGOs after accusations
Italian NGOs are currently under attack, due to allegations undermining the credibility and expertise of organisations and volunteers saving lives in the Mediterranean. This case is unfortunately not isolated in the EU.
From partnerships to self-interest: how can we reverse the trend in EU Development Cooperation?
With the revision of the Cotonou Agreement which will start mid-2018 and the soon to be signed new EU Consensus on Development, where do we stand on development cooperation after 60 years of European Union?
EU’s ‘New Consensus on Development’ puts migration control centre-stage
CONCORD in the news: This article from Johannes Trimmel, CONCORD President, on the EU Consensus on Development has been initially published in Euractiv. The EU’s New Consensus on Development is meant to plot a roadmap to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Instead, the draft proposal appears to prioritise migration control and military operations, writes our President.
Our 2016 Annual Report is out!
2016 confirmed that solidarity is the only way to effectively tackle the current issues our world is facing. Civil society organisations such as CONCORD Europe have an important role to play as drivers for change.
For a Common Agricultural Policy respecting policy coherence for sustainable development
The European Commission opened a Consultation on the modernisation of the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). CONCORD Europe sent its recommendations and called for policy coherence for sustainable development to be strengthened. Read our reply.
EU Action for Sustainability: 10 recommendations from CONCORD
EU Member States and the European Parliament are preparing their respective responses to the Commission’s Communication ‘Next steps for a sustainable European future’. To make the best use of these timely opportunities, CONCORD has set out 10 recommendations for each of these actors, so they can rectify the lack of ambition the EU has displayed thus far in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Slight increase of global aid explained by rise of in-donor refugees’ costs
Press Release – CONCORD’s reaction to the 2016 statistics on ODA from the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the OECD.
140 million euros of EU funding a year at risk for UK NGOs after Brexit
CONCORD in the news – This article, including an interview of Johannes Trimmel, our President, has been published in Devex on April 4th. The UK NGOs could miss out on 140 million euros of funding a year from the European Union as a result of Brexit.