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Gathering Civil Society and European Commission on development cooperation

North-South Forum on Development Cooperation, 2-4 March 2010


First published in Brussels, 18 February 2010 | Latest update, 04 March 2010 - Caritas Europa and CIDSE organised a North-South Forum on Development Cooperation, on 2-4 March 2010. The three-day event culminated in a public event held at the European Parliament on 4 March.

During the Forum, Caritas Europa, CIDSE and 25 Southern partners discussed the challenges they encounter regarding new trends in the way the European Commission is co-financing and cooperating with Civil Society in the North and the South.

Their main objectives were to ensure that the added value of Civil Society organisations in development is fully appreciated by all stakeholders, and to discuss how future modalities for cooperation between the European Commission and Civil Society organisations should respond effectively to the needs of the poor.

On the second day of the Forum, Wednesday 3 March, representatives of the European Commission joined the discussion to jointly find answers and concrete recommendations on how to improve this cooperation. 

      Caritas Europa and CIDSE organise the North-South Forum on Development Cooperation, 2-4 March 2010 

Caritas Europa and CIDSE organise the North-South Forum on Development Cooperation, 2-4 March 2010

The last day of the Forum, Thursday 4 March, culminated in a public event at the European Parliament hosted by MEPs Thijs Berman and Bart Staes:  “North-South civil society cooperation: How will the European Commission provide an enabling environment.”

The Forum eventually agreed on a series of recommendations to the European Commission and to Civil Society. Among other things, the European Commission was recommended to ensure the autonomy of Civil Society, to promote clarification of the role of Civil Society in new aid modalities, and to formulate new and more flexible funding modalities. Civil Society was also recommended to undertake specific measures, among which: to manage its diversity by engaging in relevant networks, to organise inclusive processes for meaningful dialogue with authorities, and to strengthen effective communication of the priorities of those living in poverty.

» Read Forum's statement: EN, FR, ES




Please find the programme of the conference below:

PROGRAMME:

When: Thursday, 4 March from 13:00-14:00
Where: Meeting Room: József Antall Building 4Q2 (European Parliament in Brussels
What: Conference: “North-South civil society cooperation: How will the European Commission provide an enabling environment”


13:00 – 13:05  Welcome
Thijs Berman, MEP S&D / DEVE member

13:05 -13:15  Welcome & Presentation of recommendations from CIDSE-Caritas Europa-North-South Forum
René Grotenhuis, President of CIDSE, Director of Cordaid/Caritas Netherlands

13:15 – 13:35  New directions for European Commission cooperation with Northern and Southern CSOs - strategic considerations
Representative of Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development

13:35 – 13:45  North-South cooperation in practice - video presentation on CIDSE-Caritas Europa-partner work on extractives in Latin America

13:45 – 14:25  Panel debate moderated by Mirjam van Reisen (EEPA) and Thijs Berman

- Aristotelis Bouratsis, Director Thematic Operations, EC EuropeAid

- Pierre Efoe Aholouvi, Executive Director Caritas Man in Ivory Coast

- Mohammad Fareed, Deputy Director Afghan Health and Development Services

- Bart Staes, MEP Greens/Cocobu Vice-Chairman

- René Grotenhuis, President of CIDSE, Director of Cordaid/Caritas Netherlands

14 :25 – 14 :30 Closure
Thijs Berman, , MEP S&D / DEVE member

 

Photos from the event (courtesy of CIDSE)

For more information, please contact:
Annalisa Mazzella
Advocacy and Communication Officer
Tel: +32 (0)2 235 03 94
E-Mail: amazzella@caritas-europa.org

 

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