Tag Archives: Civil society

Development of relations between the Commission and civil society

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Development of relations between the Commission and civil society

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Anti-discrimination and relations with civil society

Development of relations between the Commission and civil society

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission of 11 December 2002, Towards a reinforced culture of consultation and dialogue – General principles and minimum standards for consultation of interested parties by the Commission [COM(2002) 704 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

By establishing a consultation process, the Commission is encouraging the participation of external interested parties in the development of European policies. Starting the consultation at an early stage in the legislative procedure helps to improve the effectiveness of policies whilst reinforcing the involvement of interested parties and the general public.

External consultation process

The consultation and dialogue are part of the European legislative procedure and complement the work of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union in the development of policy. The scope of the consultation depends on the potential impact of a proposal on a particular sector or on whether it represents a major policy reform.

This process differs clearly from the internal decision-making process and the specific consultation processes provided for in the treaties or secondary legislation, as well as in international agreements.

The process for the consultation of interested external parties is not legally binding. Moreover, it cannot be indefinite or permanent.

The Commission advocates open governance involving as broad a participation by citizens as possible, in a growing number of fields.

The specific role of organised civil society

Civil society organisations act as relays between citizens and the European institutions, thus encouraging policy dialogue and the active participation of citizens in achieving the aims of the European Union (EU).

The departments of the Commission thus conduct structured dialogue with these organisations. Improving the consultation procedures will guarantee a more consistent and interactive approach. Interactive mechanisms will allow the impact of Community policies to be assessed, via the feedback of information and the consultation of panels.

Information on the Commission’s formal or structured advisory bodies in which civil society organisations participate can be found in the CONECCS database (Consultation, European Commission and Civil Society), which also includes a voluntary list of civil society organisations established at European level.

The Commission also supports the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. These institutional advisory bodies acts as relays for the views of organised civil society and regional and local authorities respectively.

A consistent consultation framework

More systematic consultation calls for a rationalisation of procedures and the availability of a structured channel for participants’ views to be expressed. Interested parties can express their views via the Internet portal ” Your voice in Europe “.

The consultation is subject to certain general principles, relating to:

the broadest possible participation of citizens, from the preparation of European policies until their implementation;
the openness and responsibility of each European institution, so that the decision-making process is more visible and more easily understandable for everyone;
the effectiveness of the consultations, which are conducted at a sufficiently early stage so as to have a real influence on the development of policies;
the consistency and flexibility of the consultation procedures, so that they can be adapted to the various categories of interests.

The consultation must respect certain minimum standards, which provide that:

the content of the consultation must be clear. All communication must be sufficiently complete and concise to encourage the interested parties to respond;
the groups consulted must be representative and able to express their views;
the consultation must be publicised as broadly as possible and be geared as far as possible to the target audience;
the timeframe for participation must be long enough for the consulted parties to be able to submit their responses, i.e. at least eight weeks for the receipt of written consultations and 20 working days for meetings;
information provided by the parties consulted must be accompanied by a receipt, and the results of the consultations must be publicised.

These consultation principles and standards apply in particular to key Commission proposals, identified in the Commission’s programme of work.

These general principles and minimum standards must be complemented by the dissemination of good practices, such as the diversity, responsibility and integrity of the information gathering exercise.

Background

In this Communication, the Commission is fulfilling the undertakings it made in its 2001 White Paper on European governance to reinforce the culture of consultation and dialogue in the European Union.

This Communication also contributes to the ‘Action Plan for Better Regulation’ and the new approach for evaluating the impact of Community legislation.

Key terms used in the act
Organised civil society: Although there is no legal definition of this concept, the term may be used to designate all organisations associating parties from the labour market, organisations representing various socio-economic groups, non-government organisations, community-based and denominational organisations. These groups are the main structures in society outside the State and the public administration. Comitology: according to the Treaty establishing the European Community, it is for the Commission to implement legislation at Community level. To do this, it may call on the assistance of a committee comprising representatives of the Member States in order to establish dialogue with the national administrations. The European Parliament also has an important role in the comitology procedure, as it is entitled to express an opinion on the implementation of legislative acts adopted in codecision.

Key terms used in the act

Organised civil society: Although there is no legal definition of this concept, the term may be used to designate all organisations associating parties from the labour market, organisations representing various socio-economic groups, non-government organisations, community-based and denominational organisations. These groups are the main structures in society outside the State and the public administration.
Comitology: according to the Treaty establishing the European Community, it is for the Commission to implement legislation at Community level. To do this, it may call on the assistance of a committee comprising representatives of the Member States in order to establish dialogue with the national administrations. The European Parliament also has an important role in the comitology procedure, as it is entitled to express an opinion on the implementation of legislative acts adopted in codecision.

Related Acts

Communication from the Commission of 5 June 2002, Consultation document: Towards a reinforced culture of consultation and dialogue – Proposal for general principles and minimum standards for consultation of interested parties by the Commission [COM(2002) 277 final – Not published in the Official Journal].
The Commission launched a consultation to find out the views of all the parties concerned with the improvement of its external consultation process. These results were incorporated in the final version of the Communication from the Commission concerning the drafting of general principles and minimum standards for consultations.

Commission White Paper of 25 July 2001 on European Governance [COM(2001) 428 final – Official Journal C 287 of 12.10.2001].

Commission Discussion paper of 18 January 2000, The Commission and Non-Governmental Organisations: Building a Stronger Partnership [COM(2000) 11 final – Not published in the Official Journal]
This Discussion Paper emphasises the Commission’s desire to build stronger partnerships with non-government organisations (NGOs). They contribute by their work towards reinforcing participative democracy by improving the representation of certain groups of citizens with the European institutions, as well as with their support for the definition of policies, the management of projects and European integration. Having identified the main issues that hamper such partnerships, the Commission proposes simplifying funding procedures, facilitating access to information and establishing regular dialogue through formalised consultations.

Civil society dialogue between the EU and candidate countries

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Civil society dialogue between the EU and candidate countries

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Civil society dialogue between the EU and candidate countries

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Enlargement > Ongoing enlargement

Civil society dialogue between the EU and candidate countries

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, of 29 June 2005, on civil society dialogue between the European Union and candidate countries [COM(2005) 290 final – Not published in the Official Journal]

Summary

The Commission aims to overcome the problem that arose during the previous enlargement of citizens being neither sufficiently informed nor prepared. It plans to strengthen contacts and exchange of experience, and ensure better mutual awareness and understanding by developing a civil society dialogue with Turkey and Croatia.

The Commission will employ the broadest definition possible of civil society *. Municipalities and other local communities will also be included in the dialogue.

The approach to dialogue employed in Croatia will be different to the one in Turkey. Greater emphasis will be placed on relations with the latter. The Commission proposes strengthening ongoing activities and complementing them with new ones.

Strengthening ongoing activities

Croatia

The EU has been working with Croatian civil society in the context of the stabilisation and association process (the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Croatia entered into force on 1 February 2005). This dialogue benefits from Croatia’s participation in Community programmes such as the 6th RTD Framework Programme and Tempus.

Turkey

National and European institutions have already developed bilateral activities with Turkey which fall under the scope of the civil society dialogue.

The EU currently finances a number of activities aimed at:

developing civil society by means of a programme to strengthen the expansion of NGOs in Turkey, the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights EIDHR and the pre-accession financial assistance programme;
fostering close links with social partners and civil society organisations in the areas of social dialogue, employment and social affairs, with particular focus on labour law, gender equality and anti-discrimination;
enhancing Turkish participation in Community education and training programmes, namely Socrates, Youth and Leonardo da Vinci. Additional financing from the pre-accession funds is envisaged to complement the proposed programme grants. In the university sector, Turkish students studying to improve their expertise in the area of European integration benefit from the Jean Monnet Scholarship programme. The Commission intends to increase the scholarship funding allocation and look into other related initiatives, such as extending the programme to EU students wishing to study in Turkey;
supporting Marie Curie Actions which offer a set of structured mobility schemes for researchers. These actions are geared to the development and transfer of research competencies, the consolidation and widening of career prospects for researchers and the promotion of excellence in European research.

New activities

Dialogue will evolve over the long term in line with the needs expressed by civil society. The Commission expects the actors of civil society to play an active role in conducting the dialogue.

Croatia

Civil society dialogue in Croatia will evolve in the light of the deepening of EU-Croatia relations, the strengthening of regional cooperation and the further development of reconciliation with the region. The Commission would like to see dialogue focus on the practical impact of the accession process and proposes encouraging contacts between social partners, the media, NGOs and religious communities in the EU and Croatia.

Turkey

The Commission is planning a range of activities aimed at enhancing EU-Turkey relations in the area of:

long-term partnerships between organisations. The establishment of a grant scheme to assist Turkish civil society organisations in cofinancing bilateral exchange projects with counterparts based in the EU. This is aimed in particular at professional organisations and social partners. Priority will be given to projects encouraging sustainable relations between organisations;
gender equality. The EU aims to strengthen the position of women in Turkish society and to tackle other issues such as domestic violence. The Commission will seek to include gender equality and the equal opportunity dimension in all its activities;
business relations. This involves the creation of an EU-Turkey Business Council to operate as a forum of the main EU companies active in Turkey and their Turkish counterparts, with a view to acting as a link between European institutions and the local business associations in the interest of further developing trade and investments;
cooperation between local communities. The Commission wishes to support twinning between EU and Turkish cities and include local communities from remote and disadvantaged regions in activities implemented within the framework of the civil society dialogue. Turkey could participate in the Community ” Citizens for Europe ” programme proposed for 2007-2013, designed to promote active European citizenship;
youth, university and professional exchanges. The Commission will evaluate the efficiency of mechanisms implemented in this area and examine additional projects. It plans to encourage closer institutional cooperation between universities in the EU and in Turkey, in view of setting up independent academic institutions open to students from both sides and supporting joint research and publications;
culture and the media. The Commission will do its utmost to encourage an open public debate. Internet-supported platforms and a website will be set up for this purpose. The Commission will work with Member States’ cultural organisations to support activities targeting language learning and the promotion of interpretation and translation from and into Turkish. It will part-finance television programmes providing information on European and Turkish societies. Partnership projects between television companies from both sides aimed at producing joint programmes will also be supported. The Commission will give priority to direct contacts between professional organisations of journalists through the creation of a programme of seminars involving journalists from the EU and Turkey.

The Commission points out that civil society dialogue will also focus on religious issues and involve churches and other religious organisations or associations.

Implementation modalities

The Commission will conduct regular consultation of personalities from both sides, chosen on the basis of their expertise in EU-Turkey relations.

In principle, the proposed activities will be financed under the pre-accession assistance budget for the countries concerned, supplemented if necessary by contributions from public or private institutions and the Commission. As regards budgetary programmes, candidate countries provide a contribution, which is partly covered by pre-accession funding.

The Commission will use existing structures and resources in the implementation of projects whenever possible. It adds that the streamlining of visa procedures by Member States would be welcome as regards the Turkish participants in the dialogue.

Monitoring and reporting

The Commission will ensure a regular follow up of the activities and of their results. Information will be made available on the “Europa” Internet portal. Monitoring of EU-Turkey mutual perceptions in particular will be established to guide future policy.

Key terms used in the act
Civil society: all structures in society outside of government and public administration, whether based on a voluntary or mandatory membership (trade unions and employers federations, organisations representing a broad spectrum of social and economic actors, non-governmental organisations, grassroots organisations, religious communities and the media).

This summary is for information only and is not designed to interpret or replace the reference document.

Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-13

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Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-13

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-13

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Education training youth sport > Vocational training

Lifelong Learning Programme 2007-13

Document or Iniciative

Decision No 1720/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 establishing an action programme in the field of lifelong learning [See amending act(s)].

Summary

The objective of the action programme in the field of lifelong learning 2007-13 is to develop and foster interchange, cooperation and mobility, so that education and training systems become a world quality reference in accordance with the Lisbon strategy. It thus contributes to the development of the Community as an advanced knowledge-based society, with sustainable economic development, more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

To realise this general objective, the programme pursues specific objectives concerning lifelong learning in the European Union (EU), which aim to:

contribute to the development of quality lifelong learning and to promote high performance, innovation and the European dimension in systems and practices;
support the realisation of a European area of lifelong learning;
help improve the quality, attractiveness and accessibility of the opportunities for lifelong learning;
reinforce their contribution to social cohesion, active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, gender equality and personal fulfilment;
help promote creativity, competitiveness, employability and the growth of an entrepreneurial spirit;
contribute to increased participation in lifelong learning by people of all ages, including those with special needs and disadvantaged groups;
promote language learning and linguistic diversity;
support the development of ICT-based resources;
reinforce their role in creating a sense of European citizenship based on respect for European values, as well as tolerance and respect for other peoples and cultures;
promote co-operation in quality assurance in all sectors of education and training;
improve their quality by encouraging the best use of results, innovative products and processes, as well as the exchange of good practice.

In this respect, consistency and complementarity with EU policies condition the implementation of the action programme. It should thus help achieve the EU’s horizontal policies by making provisions for learners with special needs and helping to promote their integration into mainstream education and training. It should also promote equality between men and women, as well as awareness of cultural and linguistic diversity and multiculturalism as a means of combating racism, prejudice and xenophobia.

Implementation of the programme should ensure consistency and complementarity with the Education and Training 2010 work programme, the integrated guidelines for jobs and growth under the partnership for growth and employment and other policies, such as those in the field of culture, youth or enterprise. The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (Cedefop), the European Training Foundation (ETF) and the Advisory Committee on Vocational Training may also be involved and/or informed according to their respective areas of competence.

In order to achieve these objectives, the programme supports the following actions:

mobility of people in lifelong learning;
bilateral and multilateral partnerships;
unilateral, national or multinational projects, including those that are designed to promote quality in education and training systems through the transnational transfer of innovation;
multilateral networks;
studies and reviews of policies and systems in the field of lifelong learning and their components;
operating grants to support certain operational and administrative costs borne by institutions or associations;
accompanying measures, i.e. other initiatives to promote the objectives of the programme;
preparatory activities for these actions;
the organisation of events (seminars, colloquia, meetings) to facilitate the implementation of the programme, the information, publication, awareness-raising and dissemination actions, as well as programme monitoring and evaluation.

Participation in the programme is open not just to the Member States, but also to the EFTA (European Free Trade Association) countries that are members of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), to the Swiss Confederation and to the EU candidate and potential candidate countries of the western Balkans in accordance with the rules and agreements governing their participation in Community programmes.

In addition, the Commission may also organise cooperation with third countries and international organisations, such as the Council of Europe or the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

The beneficiaries of the programme are:

pupils, students, trainees and adult learners;
all categories of education personnel;
people in the labour market;
institutions and organisations providing learning opportunities within the programme;
persons and bodies responsible for systems and policies at local, regional and national level;
enterprises, social partners and their organisations at all levels, including trade organisations and chambers of commerce and industry;
bodies providing guidance, counselling and information services;
participants’, parents’ and teachers’ associations;
research centres and bodies;
non-profit organisations, voluntary bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The management of the programme is shared between the Commission and the national agencies. In this respect, the national agencies may be responsible for selecting certain types of projects, the mobility of individuals, bilateral and multilateral partnerships or unilateral and national projects.

For the implementation of the programme, the Commission is assisted by a management committee made up of representatives from the EU Member States. The implementation measures must be adopted in comitology, in accordance with the management procedure. Only decisions concerning the awarding of certain specific grants are taken without the assistance of the committee. In the context of social dialogue at Community level and involving the social partners more closely in the implementation of the action programme, the latter may participate in the work of the committee as observers on matters relating to vocational education and training.

The indicative financial envelope for the programme is set at EUR 6.97 billion for its duration. The minimum amounts to be allocated to the sectoral programmes (see below) are 13 % to Comenius, 40 % to Erasmus, 25 % to Leonardo da Vinci and 4 % to Grundtvig.

The Commission shall regularly monitor and assess the integrated programme in cooperation with the Member States. The latter shall submit reports to the Commission: one on the implementation of the programme by 30 June 2010 at the latest, and another on its effects by 30 June 2015.

The Commission, for its part, will present an interim evaluation report on the results achieved and on the qualitative and quantitative aspects of implementation by 31 March 2011 at the latest, a communication on the continuation of the programme by 31 December 2011 and an ex-post evaluation report by 31 March 2016.

SECTORAL PROGRAMMES

The action programme is divided into six sub-programmes, four of which are sectoral. They are all structured in the same way and address the teaching and learning needs of all participants, as well as of the institutions and organisations providing or facilitating education and training in each respective sector. All the actions incorporate mobility, language and new technology.

Comenius

The programme covers pre-school and school education up to the end of upper secondary education, as well as the institutions and organisations providing such education.

Its two specific objectives are to:

develop understanding and appreciation among young people and educational staff of the diversity of European cultures;
help young people acquire the basic life-skills and competences necessary for their personal development, for future employment and for active European citizenship.

In this context, the programme pursues the following operational objectives:

better mobility, especially in terms of quality and volume;
better partnerships between schools in different Member States, especially the quality and volume thereof, so as to involve at least 3 million pupils during the period of the programme;
encouragement for learning foreign languages;
the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practices;
better teacher training in terms of quality and the European dimension;
support in improving pedagogical approaches and school management.

The following actions may be supported by the Comenius programme:

mobility, such as exchanges of pupils and staff, school mobility, training courses for teachers, etc.;
partnerships, such as “Comenius school partnerships” of schools for joint learning projects or “Comenius-Regio partnerships” of organisations responsible for school education, with a view to fostering inter-regional and particularly border region cooperation;
multilateral projects on disseminating and promoting best practices, exchanging experience or developing new courses or course content;
multilateral networks aimed at developing education, disseminating good practice and innovation, supporting partnerships and projects, as well as developing needs analysis;
accompanying measures.

The mobility and partnership actions account for at least 80 % of the Comenius budget.

Erasmus

The Erasmus programme addresses formal higher education and vocational education and training at tertiary level, whatever the length of the course or qualification may be and including doctoral studies. Unlike the previous programmes, vocational education and training at tertiary level now falls under Erasmus instead of Leonardo da Vinci.

The two specific objectives are to:

support the achievement of a European Area of Higher Education;
reinforce the contribution of higher education and advanced vocational education to the process of innovation.

To this end, the programme pursues operational objectives that should endeavour to improve, strengthen and develop:

mobility (including quality), by reaching 3 million individuals by 2012;
the volume of cooperation (including quality) among higher education institutions and between higher education institutions and enterprises;
the transparency and compatibility of acquired qualifications;
innovative practices and their transfer between countries;
innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practices.

The following actions may be supported by the Erasmus programme:

mobility of students (studies, training, placements), teaching staff, other staff in higher education institutions and staff of enterprises for the purposes of training or teaching, Erasmus intensive programmes organised on a multilateral basis, as well as support to the home and host institutions to ensure the quality of the mobility arrangements. Mobility actions account for at least 80 % of the budget for this programme;
multilateral projects focusing on innovation, experimentation and the exchange of good practices;
multilateral networks, such as “Erasmus thematic networks” run by consortia of higher education institutions and representing a discipline or a cross-disciplinary field;
accompanying measures.

Leonardo da Vinci

The Leonardo da Vinci programme addresses vocational education and training other than that at tertiary level.

Its specific objectives are to:

support participants in training to acquire and use knowledge, skills and qualifications to facilitate personal development, employability and participation in the European labour market;
improve quality and innovation;
enhance the attractiveness of vocational education and training and mobility.

To this end, the programme pursues operational objectives that seek to develop and strengthen:

mobility (including quality) in this field and that of continuous training, including placements in enterprises, so that they number 80 000 per year by the end of the programme;
the volume of cooperation (including quality) between the different actors;
innovative practices and their transfer between countries;
the transparency and recognition of qualifications and competences, including those acquired through non-formal and informal learning;
language learning;
innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practices.

The following actions may be supported by the Leonardo da Vinci programme:

mobility, including the preparation thereof;
partnerships focusing on themes of mutual interest;
multilateral projects, in particular those aimed at improving training systems through the transfer and development of innovation and good practice in order to adapt to national needs;
thematic networks of experts and organisations working on specific issues related to vocational education and training;
accompanying measures.

The mobility and partnership actions account for at least 60 % of the budget for this programme.

Grundtvig

The Grundtvig programme addresses all forms of adult education.

It aims to:

respond to the educational challenge of an ageing population in Europe;
help provide adults with pathways to improving their knowledge and competences.

Its operational objectives are as follows:

improve the quality and accessibility of mobility with a view to supporting 7 000 individuals per year by the end of the programme;
improve cooperation (quality and volume);
support and find alternatives for underprivileged and vulnerable persons, such as older people and those who have left education without basic qualifications;
support the development of innovative practices and their transfer between countries;
support the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practices;
improve pedagogical approaches and the management of adult education organisations.

The following actions may be supported by the Grundtvig programme:

mobility of individuals, including adequate preparation, supervision and support;
“Grundtvig learning partnerships” focusing on themes of mutual interest;
multilateral projects aimed at improving adult education systems through the development and transfer of innovation and good practice;
“Grundtvig networks”, thematic networks of experts and organisations;
accompanying measures.

The mobility and partnership actions account for at least 55 % of the budget for the Grundtvig programme.

The transversal programme

The transversal programme mainly addresses activities that extend beyond the limits of the sectoral programmes.

It covers four key activities in the field of lifelong learning, i.e.:

policy cooperation and innovation;
the promotion of language learning;
the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practices;
the dissemination and exploitation of results of actions supported under the programme or previous programmes, and exchange of good practice.

The specific objectives are to:

promote European cooperation in fields covering two or more sectoral programmes;
promote the quality and transparency of Member States’ education and training systems.

Its operational objectives are to:

support policy development and cooperation at European level in lifelong learning in the context of the Lisbon process, the Education and Training 2010 work programme, the Bologna and Copenhagen processes and their successors;
ensure a supply of comparable data, statistics and analyses to underpin policy development, as well as to monitor progress towards objectives and targets, and to identify areas for particular attention;
promote language learning and support linguistic diversity in the Member States;
support the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practices;
ensure that the results of the programme are advertised, disseminated and taken into consideration.

The programme actions apply to the key activities in the transversal programme. For example, under the key activity entitled “policy cooperation and innovation”, the actions may deal in particular with supporting the observation and analysis of policies and systems such as the Eurydice network or the transparency of qualifications and competences, information and guidance for mobility purposes and cooperation in quality assurance such as Euroguidance, and National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC), Ploteus or the Europass initiative.

The Jean Monnet programme:

The Jean Monnet programme targets specific issues of European integration in the academic world and the support needed for institutions and associations active in education and training at European level.

This programme covers three key activities:

the Jean Monnet action, in which institutions from third countries can also participate, accounts for at least 16 % of the budget for this programme;
operating grants to designated institutions that pursue objectives of European interest. These institutions are the College of Europe, the European University Institute in Florence, the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht, the Academy of European Law (ERA) in Trier, the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education in Middelfart, and the International Centre for European Training (CIFE) in Nice. These grants account for at least 65 % of the budget;
operating subsidies to other European institutions and associations in the field of education and training that account for at least 19 % of the budget.

The specific objectives are to:

stimulate teaching, research and reflection activities in the field of European integration studies;
support an appropriate range of institutions and associations focusing on issues relating to European integration and on education and training from a European perspective.

Its operational objectives are therefore to stimulate excellence, enhance knowledge and awareness of European integration, as well as support European institutions working on European integration and high-quality European institutions and associations.

The actions cover unilateral and national projects, such as Jean Monnet chairs, centres of excellence and teaching modules or support young researchers, as well as multilateral projects and networks.

BACKGROUND

The lifelong learning programme 2007-13 encompasses all the European programmes in the field of lifelong learning. It is therefore based on the previous programmes for the period 2000-06: Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, eLearning and the Jean Monnet action.

A single Community support programme in the field of education and training is more rational, coherent and effective. It should thus lead to greater interaction between the different areas, to better visibility, particularly with regard to the capacity to respond to developments in this field, and to better cooperation.

Thus, it should also help achieve the objectives of the Lisbon Strategy, including the environmental dimension, and of the European Area of Higher Education (the Bologna process), particularly the objective of making education and training a global quality benchmark by 2010 and of focusing on learning foreign languages in line with the conclusions of the Barcelona European Council of 2002. It also falls within the framework of the specific future objectives for education systems in the Education and Training 2010 work programme, the action plan for skills and mobility and the action plan promoting language learning and linguistic diversity.

References

Act	Entry into force – Date of expiry	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Decision No 1720/2006/EC	1.1.2007 – 31.12.2013	–	OJ L 327 of 24.11.2006

Amending act(s)	Entry into force – Date of expiry	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Decision No 1357/2008/EC	31.12.2008 – 31.12.2013	–	OJ L 350 of 30.12.2008

Local authorities and development assistance

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Local authorities and development assistance

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Local authorities and development assistance

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These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Development > Sectoral development policies

Local authorities and development assistance

Document or Iniciative

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee and Committee of the Regions – Local authorities: actors for development [COM(2008) 626 final – Not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

The purpose of this Communication is, on the one hand, to recognise the importance of the local authorities’ contribution to the development policy of the European Union (EU), and, on the other hand, to present the first elements of a strategy that will make it possible to capitalise on the experience of the local actors in this area by reinforcing their participation in the design and implementation of development activities, in a coordinated and strategic manner.

The Commission considers that local authorities bring unique added value to development processes, by virtue of, in particular:

their ability to mobilise different stakeholders to work together, to increase public awareness,
their knowledge of local needs and expertise in sectors conducive to poverty reduction (urbanisation, water and sanitation, etc.),
their direct experience in territorial development.

According to the Commission, it is necessary to exploit this potential while avoiding excessive fragmentation of development assistance.

The European Union should therefore introduce a framework enabling local authorities to operate as actors for development, in accordance with the general principles adopted at international level. The Commission also considers that local authorities as sub-national actors should be better represented on the European scene and suggests that they organise themselves in order to make their voices heard in the international donor groups. It proposes the establishment of a structured dialogue on development policy with local authorities, a dialogue which could take place under the aegis of the Committee of the Regions and take the form of annual assemblies. In addition, the EU could develop specific tools which would allow local authorities to better coordinate their actions with those of European development policy.

The Commission also underlines the importance of local authorities in the developing countries. It believes that they can play an essential role in reinforcing governance and local democracy, public services and territorial (regional) planning. Moreover, a large number of EU partner countries have launched a process of decentralisation but face many challenges that stronger relations with local authorities in EU Member States could help to overcome.

The Commission suggests that the future European approach could be based on the following:

aid effectiveness: enhancing development cooperation in support of local governance, with the aim of increasing the coherence, complementarity and effectiveness of different local actors, in accordance with the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness ;
identifying actors and activities: creating mechanisms to improve overall knowledge of development activities implemented by local authorities. This may include an Atlas of Decentralised Cooperation, a compendium of best practice, or an observatory;
creating a “stock exchange”: matching supply and demand in development cooperation by means of a platform for the exchange of information, in order to reconcile expertise and financial resources, to reinforce the network of local authorities involved in territorial cooperation and to create partnerships. This “stock exchange” under the aegis of the Committee of the Regions would act as a point of contact between local authorities in the EU and partner countries and as a tool for creating new partnerships;
supporting decentralised cooperation actions: the Commission wishes to continue to support the actions carried out by local authorities for development in order to enhance the exchange of experience and build closer and more long-term partnerships. The Commission also considers that the EU and local authorities in the EU should support the role of national associations of local authorities in partner countries, in order that they can participate in their national political dialogue.

Context

The importance of the role of local authorities in European development policy has already been emphasised several times, notably in 2003, in the Commission Communication “Governance and development”, in 2005, in the context of the EU Strategy for Africa, and in 2006, in another Communication devoted to Non-state Actors and Local Authorities in Development.

Green Paper on the European Transparency Initiative

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Green Paper on the European Transparency Initiative

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Green Paper on the European Transparency Initiative

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These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Institutional affairs > The decision-making process and the work of the institutions

Green Paper on the European Transparency Initiative

This Green Paper launched a public consultation on three themes aiming to improve transparency in decision-making procedures: the need for a more structured framework governing the activities of interest representatives, the need for feedback on the Commission’s consultation of civil society and the mandatory disclosure of information about the beneficiaries of EU funds under shared management. The intention was to build on a series of measures already put in place by the Commission, in particular those on transparency and openness since the White Paper on European governance.

Document or Iniciative

Green Paper of 3 May 2006 – European transparency initiative [COM(2006) 194 final – Official Journal C 151 of 29.6.2006].

Summary

When launching the Transparency Initiative on 9 November 2005, the Commission drew a distinction between three areas of action:

fuller information about the management and use of Community funds;
professional ethics within the European institutions;
the framework within which lobby groups and civil society organisations* operate.

In the field of funding, it set up a website to allow better scrutiny of use of EU funds under centralised management.

A second series of measures meant that debates could be restarted with the other European institutions on:

the rules and standards on professional ethics of political appointees in the European institutions;
a review of the legislation on access to documents;
a revision of the legal framework regulating the activities of the EU’s Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

Finally, the Commission identified three major components of the European Transparency Initiative, to be driven forward on the basis of an open public consultation, that are the subject of this Green Paper.

Interested parties were invited to submit their opinions on these three themes. The consultation opened on 3 May and closed on 31 August 2006. All contributions have been published on the Commission website below.

Transparency and interest representation (lobbying)

The Commission’s existing policy on transparency in lobbying* is based on two different categories of measures. On the one hand, there is the information provided to the general public about the relations between interest representatives and the Commission in order to allow outside scrutiny. On the other, there are the rules on integrity, which govern the proper conduct of those being lobbied and of the lobbyists* themselves.

A number of options can be considered for reinforcing the external scrutiny of lobbying:

providing more extensive information on who has contributed to the development of a policy or a legal framework;
developing an incentive-based registration system.

Regarding the first point, the Commission intends to ensure that, during the public consultations, interest groups will be systematically asked to fill in an electronic questionnaire about their objectives, financial situation and the interests they represent.

The Commission is also studying the possibility of developing and managing a web-based voluntary registration system for all interest groups and lobbyists who wish to be consulted on EU initiatives. To qualify for entry in the register, applicants would need to provide information on who they represent, what their mission is and how they are funded. They would also be required to sign up to a code of ethics.

The Commission, which does not consider a compulsory registration system to be an appropriate option, favours a tighter system of self-regulation. It suggests checking whether, after an appropriate period of time, the system of self-regulation has worked, with consideration then given, if necessary, to a system of compulsory measures.

Alongside external scrutiny of contacts with lobbyists, integrity rules are another essential contribution to transparency in lobbying. The Commission has taken the view that voluntary codes of conduct for lobbyists can play a useful supporting role. In the 1992 Communication on special interest groups, lobbyists were invited to adopt their own codes of conduct on the basis of minimum criteria proposed by the Commission. In this context, the Commission considers that the system should be enhanced by the addition of a system of monitoring and sanctions in the event of incorrect registration and/or breach of the code of conduct.

Feedback on application of the minimum standards for consultation

The Commission adopted a Communication on the minimum standards for consultation in December 2002. The objective was to create a transparent and coherent general framework for consultation. The overall rationale was to ensure that interested parties are properly heard in the Commission’s policy-making process.

The minimum standards have been in force since the beginning of 2003. They concern the general principles applicable to consultation, i.e. participation, openness, accountability, effectiveness and coherence.

In the Commission’s view, the general assessment for the period 2003-2005 was that overall compliance was satisfactory, with most of the minimum standards being correctly applied by Commission departments. However, contributions to open public consultations were not published on the internet in every case and in some cases there was insufficient feedback on how comments received via consultations were or were not taken into account in the final policy proposal from the Commission.

Disclosure of the identity of beneficiaries of Community funds

In the Green Paper, the European Commission affirms its commitment to raising awareness of the use made of EU money, notably by explaining better what Europe does and why it matters.

Regarding the use of Community funds, most of the EU budget is not spent centrally and directly by the Commission but in partnership with the Member States. Most of the information on beneficiaries of Community funds is therefore currently in the hands of each Member State. The extent to which information is made public differs significantly from one Member State to another.

Citizens often turn to the European Commission for information about the beneficiaries of Community funds if such information is not disclosed at a regional or national level. This situation puts the Commission in a difficult position since it either does not have this information or does not have the right to hand it out without the prior agreement of the Member State concerned. Moreover, the restrictive approach taken to publishing information by some Member States is often based on national law or data protection practices.

The Commission is of the opinion that the time has come to overcome these obstacles by drawing up a new EU legal framework directly applicable in all Member States so as to ensure a consistent approach towards all beneficiaries of EU funds.

Background

The Commission has stressed the importance of a “high level of transparency” to ensure that the Union is “open to public scrutiny and accountable for its work”. It believes that high standards of transparency are part of the legitimacy of any modern administration. Against this background, the Commission launched the “European Transparency Initiative” (ETI) in November 2005.

It was intended that this initiative would build on a series of measures already put in place by the Commission, in particular those taken as part of the overall reforms implemented since 1999 and in the White Paper on European governance. Some of the major achievements in this field include:

the legislation on access to documents (Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001);
the launch of databases providing information about consultative bodies and expert groups advising the Commission;
wide consultations of stakeholders and in-depth impact assessments prior to legislative proposals;
the Commission’s “Code of good administrative behaviour”, which is its benchmark for quality service in its relations with the public.

Key terms used in the act

Lobbying: all activities carried out with the objective of influencing the policy formulation and decision-making processes of the European institutions.
Lobbyists: persons carrying out lobbying and who work in organisations such as public affairs consultancies, law firms, NGOs, think-tanks or trade associations.
Civil society organisations: a wide-ranging concept that includes European interest (and pressure) groups, trade unions and employers’ federations, NGOs, consumer groups, organisations representing social and economic players, charities and community-based organisations.

The role of civil society in drugs policy in the European Union

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The role of civil society in drugs policy in the European Union

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about The role of civil society in drugs policy in the European Union

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Justice freedom and security > Combating drugs

The role of civil society in drugs policy in the European Union

Document or Iniciative

Commission Green Paper of 26 June 2006 on the role of civil society in drugs policy in the European Union [COM(2006) 316 final – not published in the Official Journal].

Summary

In its fight against drugs, the EU has decided to consult civil society. The experience gained on the ground by these associations, particularly in helping the victims of this scourge, constitutes a major asset for the Commission, which wants to strengthen the networks of civil society, take account of their recommendations and gather together innovative practice on the ground.

The concept of “civil society”

There is no commonly accepted definition of the concept of “civil society”. The Commission has often used this term to refer to organisations representing both social and economic stakeholders. However, a more precise definition has been used for the purposes of this green paper. Civil society is the associational life operating in the space between the state and market, including individual participation, and the activities of non-governmental, voluntary and Community organisations. The aims of involving civil society are to support policy formulation and implementation through practical advice, to ensure an effective two-way information flow and to stimulate networking among the various organisations.

This growing involvement of civil society is a part of the development of European governance and the wish to bring Europe closer to citizens. Since 1992, relations between the EU and civil society have had two guiding principles: diversity of dialogue and equal treatment.

The legal framework of the fight against drugs

The Treaty establishing the European Community created a legal framework which constitutes a valuable tool in the fight against drugs on essential points such as the following:

money laundering: Directive on the prevention of money laundering in the financial system;
the protection of public health: a Council Recommendation on the prevention and reduction of health related harm associated with drug dependence;
control: a Regulation on drug precursors;
cooperation: a Council Decision on new psychoactive substances.

The EU has also established a European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) which is a Community agency established within the framework provided by the EC Treaty.

Civil society stakeholders in the drugs field

In this green paper, the Commission proposes that the dialogue between the EU and a vast range of organisations active in the fight against drugs be structured and placed on a more durable basis. The Commission therefore wishes to act in harmony with the associations that implement at local level the actions set out in the EU Action Plan on Drugs, especially in achieving the objectives on drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug users. These organisations and other types of voluntary groups are also often good at developing innovative approaches based on a realistic picture of what is needed.

The Commission must respond to two considerations: it must take account of the diversity of these associations, which are often subdivided along philosophical, scientific and moral lines, on the one hand, and it must ensure that there is effective and organised debate, on the other. The Commission also stresses the valuable contribution of associations which do not directly fight drugs, such as those connected with HIV/AIDS.

The way forward: different options

The Commission proposes two options for organising the dialogue with civil society.

Firstly, a civil society forum on drugs: this wording implies the creation of a broad platform, chaired by the Commission, with a limited number of participants in order for the dialogue to be kept structured and operational. The object is not to create a civil society assembly as a platform for various ideologies but to create a practical instrument to support policy formulation and implementation through practical advice. This forum would not be a formal structure within the Commission. Additionally, it will supplement the existing debate between the governments of Member States and the associations of civil society; the focus will therefore be on European added value. The selection criteria for taking part in this forum are as follows:

the organisation has to correspond to the concept of civil society, in other words the associational life operating in the space between the state and the market;
the organisation has to operate in an EU Member State or a candidate country. Organisations from European neighbourhood policy countries may also participate, when appropriate;
priority will be given to associations which are transnational or in the form of networks in a number of Member States;
the organisation has to focus mainly on the fight against drugs, it must have a track record and it must be representative.

There must then be a thematic linking of existing networks. The purpose is to give the Commission technical assistance on issues requiring specific experience or expertise on the basis of the successful model for the treatment of drug addiction.

Background

The harmful consequences of drugs for health and society, as well as drug-related crime, are seen by public opinion as a major concern. Since the 1990s, a European model based on a balanced and integrated approach to drugs has been developed. In the context of the implementation of the EU strategy on drugs for the period 2005-2012 and the 2005-2008 action plan, it is essential that European policy on this matter should still be inspired by the ideas and the experience of the many organisations of civil society which are active in this field.

Europe for Citizens

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Europe for Citizens

Outline of the Community (European Union) legislation about Europe for Citizens

Topics

These categories group together and put in context the legislative and non-legislative initiatives which deal with the same topic.

Justice freedom and security > Citizenship of the Union

Europe for Citizens (2007-13)

Document or Iniciative

Decision No 1904/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 establishing for the period 2007 to 2013 the programme ‘Europe for Citizens’ to promote active European citizenship [See amending act(s)].

Summary

With a view to actively involving the public in the process of European integration, this programme is intended to encourage cooperation between citizens and citizens’ organisations in various countries. They can thus come together and take action in a European environment that respects their diversity.

Before publishing this decision, the Commission undertook an extensive public consultation from December 2004 to February 2005 and then organised a consultative forum on 3 and 4 February 2005. The online consultation resulted in more than a thousand responses, 700 of which were from organisations and some 300 from individuals. This programme for 2007-13 follows on from the Community action programme to promote active European citizenship (2004-06).

Objectives

The programme’s general objectives are as follows:

giving citizens the opportunity to interact and participate in constructing an ever closer Europe that is open to the world, united in and enriched through its cultural diversity;
developing a European identity among European citizens based on recognised common values, history and culture;
fostering a sense of ownership of the European Union (EU) among its citizens;
enhancing tolerance and mutual understanding between European citizens and respecting and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, while contributing to intercultural dialogue.

Its specific objectives are to:

bring together people from local communities across Europe to share and exchange experiences, opinions and values, to learn from history and to build for the future;
foster action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy through cooperation between civil society organisations at European level;
make the idea of Europe more tangible for its citizens by promoting and celebrating Europe’s values and achievements, while preserving the memory of its past;
encourage the balanced integration of citizens and civil society organisations from all participating countries, contributing to intercultural dialogue and bringing to the fore both Europe’s diversity and its unity, with particular attention to activities with Member States that have recently joined the EU.

The programme’s objectives must be reflected in four types of action:

Action 1: “Active citizens for Europe”

This action involves citizens directly by means of town-twinning activities and citizens’ projects to debate European issues and develop mutual understanding through direct participation. In order to improve town-twinning and citizens’ projects, it is also necessary to develop support measures to exchange best practices, to pool experiences between stakeholders at local and regional levels and to develop new skills, for example through training. As an indication, at least 45 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action.

Action 2: “Active civil society in Europe”

Approximately 31 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action, which comprises:

structural support for European public policy research organisations (think-tanks);
structural support for civil society organisations at European level;
support for projects initiated by civil society organisations at local, regional and national levels.

Action 3: “Together for Europe”

Approximately 10 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action, which supports:

high-profile events, such as commemorations of historical events, artistic events, awards to highlight major accomplishments and Europe-wide conferences;
studies, surveys and opinion polls;
information and dissemination tools.

Action 4: “Active European Remembrance”

Approximately 4 % of the total budget allocated to the programme will be devoted to this action, which comprises projects to preserve active European remembrance. These are mainly projects designed to preserve the main sites and archives associated with the mass deportations and former concentration camps and to commemorate the victims of mass exterminations and mass deportations that took place during the Nazi and Stalinist regimes.

Participation

The programme is open to the participation of the following countries, in accordance with the general terms and conditions for their participation in Community programmes:

Member States;
EFTA States that are party to the EEA Agreement;
candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy;
countries of the western Balkans.

The programme applies to the following:

local authorities and organisations;
European public policy research organisations (think-tanks);
citizens’ groups and other civil society organisations, such as non-governmental organisations, platforms, networks, associations, federations, trade unions, educational institutions and organisations active in the field of voluntary work or amateur sport.

Management, budget and evaluation

The Commission is assisted by a committee and must adopt most of the implementation measures in accordance with the management procedure. This includes selection decisions related to operating grants, multi-annual twinning agreements and high-profile events. With regard to other selection decisions, the Commission has the obligation to inform the committee and the European Parliament of the decisions adopted. The proposed budget for the implementation of this programme is EUR 215 million. Approximately 10 % of the total allocated budget covers administrative expenditure.

The Commission shall submit an interim evaluation report on the implementation of the programme no later than 31 December 2010. A communication on the continuation of the programme shall be presented no later than 31 December 2011. The ex-post evaluation report shall be submitted no later than 31 December 2015.

References

Act	Entry into force – Date of expiry	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Decision No 1904/2006/EC	1.1.2007 – 31.12.2013	–	OJ L 378 of 27.12.2006

Amending act(s)	Entry into force – Date of expiry	Deadline for transposition in the Member States	Official Journal
Decision No 1358/2008/EC	31.12.2008 – 31.12.2013	–	OJ L 350 of 30.12.2008

Related Acts

Communication from the Commission of 9 March 2004 – Making citizenship Work: fostering European culture and diversity through programmes for Youth, Culture, Audiovisual and Civic Participation [COM(2004) 154 final – Official Journal C 122 of 30.4.2004].