CONCORD in the news: Letter to Editors initially published in POLITICO, written by Davide Gnes and Fanni Bihari.
Much of the current migration from developing countries to Europe — when not responding to immediate threats such as conflict, political persecution, famine and instability — is just a symptom, among many, of the massive social and economic gap that exists between certain regions of the world.
Brussels, 28 September 2018 – Today, the European Commission officially launched the negotiations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) on a new partnership agreement which will succeed the Cotonou Agreement. CONCORD, the European Confederation of Development NGOs, welcomes the renewal of the agreement as it represents a great opportunity to build a people-centered cooperation among equal partners but is concerned about the narrative of Africa being increasingly portrayed only as Europe’s trade and economic partner.
On 19 June 2018, the Committees on Budget, Budgetary Control, Foreign Affairs and Development jointly organised a joint hearing entitled Assessing the flow of external EU migration funding. Fanni Bihari, from ACT Alliance EU, represented our confederation in this public debate aiming at assessing the flow of current expenditure on the migration-related projets and the EU Trusts Funds. Find here the main take-aways of her presentation, a useful summary of CONCORD’s position on that matter.
Brussels, 29 June 2018 – CONCORD is worried by the political directions endorsed by the European Council’s decisions to continue lowering the number of migrants’ arrivals to Europe. Putting all the stakes in ring-fencing the EU and reinforcing our borders to stop migrants may easily be proven to be ineffective and a breach to founding European values.
Today, the European Commission has released the legal framework for the external funding instruments of the future EU budget (MFF 2021-2027). CONCORD, the European Confederation of Development NGOs, raises concerns that unproven investment schemes and migration control will overshadow the EU’s commitments to promote human rights, sustainable development and the fight against poverty.