While the European elections were building NCVO worked closely with members across the country and in many other EU countries to develop a shared platform for civil society- this is increasingly a discussion that happens outside the major capitals and we must recognise the role of local and regional action. For example a panel debate with MEPs and candidates in Birmingham tapped into the phenomenal work of the West Midlands European Network and the ways that EU funds can reach organisations through regional assistance. This election has shown more than ever the need to build those local connections to ensure that the voices of all our communities are being heard. This is where people can relate to politics in a tangible way, where they can bring their voices into the debate and connect with their neighbours.
The central point here is that people do not relate to a basic sense of identity in EU citizenship, the national identities appeal to long histories and shared narratives but the EU is a very recent political development and does not carry the same emotional attachment. Perhaps rather than focus on subsidies and free markets the European politicians should be working to develop a collective narrative, building on the central founding principle of liberation from oppression...
see my previous posts on the EU through my profile!
Richard’s article points to the critical cross-roads that the world of civil society is reaching.
NGOs are no longer the outsiders begging for crumbs at the table but are now significant players in our own right; but with this comes increasing complexity and changing responsibility. The old ideas of North-South Divide do not add up when Indian conglomerates are buying Jaguar cars and Brazilian aircraft companies are delivering aircraft to the Swiss, instead we are moving towards a world of global citizens and international alliances where each participant learns from partners in any context.
But as the world has been globalised, so has the pattern of exclusion, so inequality is on the rise in Western Europe and child poverty may be worse here than in Cuba. The great opportunity is for models of participation and engagement to be shared across borders for mutual learning and for individuals and civil society to work together to address major concerns.
As the European Union has been expanding so the number of migrants from across the new member states has increased in the UK.
We took some time at the NCVO Annual Conference on 20 February 2008 to consider the impact of this migration on the voluntary sector in this country, with participation of colleagues from the Barka Foundation of Poland.
How have things changed?
What are the key examples of success for new migrant communities?
How can we work together across the EU to improve the situation?
Above all this work shows that the EU is no longer ‘out there’ but that increasingly it is ‘in here’!
To download the full report please go to the NCVO conference page and scroll to ‘Workshop AM4’.
The Impact of the European Reform Treaty on the 3rd Sector:
Last week's Eurogroup Meeting took place in the Jubilee Room, Westminster Hall, where the Minister for Europe Jim Murphy spoke and answered questions from Eurogroup members including RSPB, BOND, NSPCC and UKREN
There was a lively debate covering a wide range of aspects of the European Reform Treaty with consideration of environmental policy, development assistance, diversity and children's rights.
The overarching aspect that affects civil society as a whole is Article 8, this specifies that “The institutions [of the EU] shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society."
This new provision would strengthen the opportunity for voluntary organisations to engage with the European institutions and would lead to a clearer relationship under a framework such as a European Compact.
Oli
How do people engage with the EU?
While the European elections were building NCVO worked closely with members across the country and in many other EU countries to develop a shared platform for civil society- this is increasingly a discussion that happens outside the major capitals and we must recognise the role of local and regional action. For example a panel debate with MEPs and candidates in Birmingham tapped into the phenomenal work of the West Midlands European Network and the ways that EU funds can reach organisations through regional assistance. This election has shown more than ever the need to build those local connections to ensure that the voices of all our communities are being heard. This is where people can relate to politics in a tangible way, where they can bring their voices into the debate and connect with their neighbours.
The central point here is that people do not relate to a basic sense of identity in EU citizenship, the national identities appeal to long histories and shared narratives but the EU is a very recent political development and does not carry the same emotional attachment. Perhaps rather than focus on subsidies and free markets the European politicians should be working to develop a collective narrative, building on the central founding principle of liberation from oppression...
see my previous posts on the EU through my profile!
Oli
Richard’s article points to the critical cross-roads that the world of civil society is reaching.
NGOs are no longer the outsiders begging for crumbs at the table but are now significant players in our own right; but with this comes increasing complexity and changing responsibility. The old ideas of North-South Divide do not add up when Indian conglomerates are buying Jaguar cars and Brazilian aircraft companies are delivering aircraft to the Swiss, instead we are moving towards a world of global citizens and international alliances where each participant learns from partners in any context.
But as the world has been globalised, so has the pattern of exclusion, so inequality is on the rise in Western Europe and child poverty may be worse here than in Cuba. The great opportunity is for models of participation and engagement to be shared across borders for mutual learning and for individuals and civil society to work together to address major concerns.
Oli
As the European Union has been expanding so the number of migrants from across the new member states has increased in the UK.
We took some time at the NCVO Annual Conference on 20 February 2008 to consider the impact of this migration on the voluntary sector in this country, with participation of colleagues from the Barka Foundation of Poland.
Above all this work shows that the EU is no longer ‘out there’ but that increasingly it is ‘in here’!
To download the full report please go to the NCVO conference page and scroll to ‘Workshop AM4’.
Oli
The Impact of the European Reform Treaty on the 3rd Sector:
Last week's Eurogroup Meeting took place in the Jubilee Room, Westminster Hall, where the Minister for Europe Jim Murphy spoke and answered questions from Eurogroup members including RSPB, BOND, NSPCC and UKREN
There was a lively debate covering a wide range of aspects of the European Reform Treaty with consideration of environmental policy, development assistance, diversity and children's rights.
The overarching aspect that affects civil society as a whole is Article 8, this specifies that “The institutions [of the EU] shall maintain an open, transparent and regular dialogue with representative associations and civil society." This new provision would strengthen the opportunity for voluntary organisations to engage with the European institutions and would lead to a clearer relationship under a framework such as a European Compact.