How will the EU commit to financing development? 2019 has seen progress towards a sustainable, human rights-based approach to spending our money where it is most needed. Now it’s time to recap.
CONCORD’s Litmus Test for EU leaders: how will your work for sustainable development?
With the European Parliament elections around the corner, new EU leaders are about to take on their posts. CONCORD’s new paper puts these leaders’ priorities to the test and asks: “How will you work for sustainable development?”
Accentuating the positive: making the case for solidarity
In some parting reflections, Seamus Jeffreson, CONCORD’s outgoing director, looks back on five eventful years in the NGO world. Despite current political pressure on CSOs, his outlook for civil society is one of solidarity, humanity, and resilience.
The upcoming presidency trio needs to set Europe on a sustainable path
Romania, Finland and Croatia recently published the Trio Programme for their upcoming EU Council Presidencies. The Trio Programme sets the joint political priorities for the presidencies and does not suggest radical changes, but puts emphasis on jobs and growth. European NGOs would like to see human rights based policies aiming at well-being within planetary boundaries.
Recommendations for the 6 strategic priorities of the future EU-ACP Agreement
The Cotonou Partnership Agreement is coming to an end in 2020. To ensure a fair ground leading to a “partnership of equals”, CONCORD has developed a list of recommendations, serving as a contribution from civil society to the ongoing EU-ACP negotiations to ensure mutually beneficial priorities.
Migration is not a problem to be managed, the real concern is inequality
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.
Sustainable development must guide the successor Cotonou Agreement
The European Commission has officially launched negotiations with the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries (ACP) on a new partnership agreement to succeed the Cotonou Agreement. This represents an opportunity to build people-centered cooperation as equal partners but, there is concern about the narrative of Africa being portrayed only as Europe’s trade and economic partner.
CONCORD’s position: assessing the flow of external migration funding
On 19 June 2018, the Committees on Budget, Budgetary Control, Foreign Affairs and Development jointly organised a joint hearing for 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 projects and the EU Trusts Funds.
European Council’s measures on migration: ineffective, costly and against human rights
The political directions endorsed by the European Council to continue lowering the number of migrants’ arrivals to Europe are concerning; and may easily be proven to be ineffective and a breach to founding European values.
EU budget: development aid blended with foreign policy objectives
Today, the European Commission released the legal framework for the external funding instruments of the Multi-annual Financial Framework 2021-2027. CONCORD 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.